~"Sorry, it would seem I'm late. I hope you didn't have to wait too long."~I spoke apologeticly while approaching Asuna.
-"No, it was me who arrived early. It's still more than twenty minutes before our agreed time."-Asuna shook her head and excused my lateness.
I smiled slightly at her, though my veil made it hard to notice. I also took another look at Asuna, who was dressed up for this occasion. While she still remained true to her red and white color scheme, after hanging around us, her style changed slightly to include more traditional elements of clothing.
For this occasion, she wore a modern-ish outfit consisting of a simple white blouse and a short red skirt that showed off her long legs covered by black stockings. But, as if to contrast this, she also wore an elegant white haori decorated with depictions of trees during fall, covering most of her outfit. As she also changed her hairstyle to a bun held by suave kanzashi with a floral design, anyone looking at her from behind would think that she is a young noblewoman straight out of Japanese history.
~"This outfit suits you very well. It's an honor to be able to take you out."~I extended my hand to her.
-"Thank you."-She answered shyly but still grabbed my arm.
~"How about we go looking around the new city?"
-"Sure."
Having agreed on the simple plan, two of us took the teleporter to the highest unlocked floor, only to be followed by three other people to the same destination. They kept enough distance to be unnoticed by Asuna, but they couldn't hide from me, though I decided to ignore them as they were familiar to both Asuna and me.
-"Can you tell me more about yourself, Yue?"-Asuna asked as we walked.
~"What do you want to know?"
-"How about your age, for a start? I heard that you are the oldest of Flame Chasers, but how old exactly?"
~"I don't know."
-"Eh?"
~"I'm not sure how to explain that, but I believe you have some ideas that we are not exactly 'normal' people."
-"Well... I thought you belonged to some kind of secret society, you know... like those Freemasons."
~"Haha, you might not be that far from the truth, though it's even stranger than you think."~I chuckled at her imagination.~"We indeed have secrets that can't be revealed yet, and I'm especially heavily linked with many of them, so I can't reveal much."
-"I see..."
~"But I think that while you are somewhat interested in me, it's not why you invited me today."
-"You are right."
~"Then be direct."
-"Sigh."-Asuna lowered her head and stayed silent for a moment before speaking while carefully picking her words.-"I need your help."
~"Go on."
-"Before the SAO, my family introduced me to someone... Introduced as someone they want me to marry..."
~"You want me to help you with changing their mind?"
-"Yes."-She nodded, finally looking up at me.-"I talked with Elysia before, and she told me some things about you and her... She suggested that I ask you for help with this matter, and I know that this is the easiest way to resolve everything..."
~"You want me to pretend in front of your parents?"
-"No."
~"Then..."
-"I wish to develop a relationship with you truly."
~"Why?"~I looked at her, somewhat surprised.~"I can see that you don't have that much feelings for me."
-"I do like you, but I don't know you well enough to have deeper feelings."-She agreed with me.-"But I know that my family also doesn't care about feelings."
Asuna smiled sadly after saying that aloud.
-"You know, at first I hated this place, but now... I wish I could stay here. I feel free here. There are no fake smiles here, like the ones that surrounded me before. Our guild feels more like family than what I call one in reality. Mito is like a sister to me, and that's the same with Elysia and the girls. Even the awkward Kalpas and cold Kevin are like older brothers."
I looked at her, not interrupting her confession.
-"I don't hate my parents, but I certainly can't say that I agree with how they are. That's why I want to choose my future to be with you all. However, I also know that my parents will oppose that, and that's why I need your help."
~"I also see you like part of our Flame Chaser's family, so I will help you even without..."
-"I know that."-She interrupted me before I could finish my sentence.-"When I was talking with Elysia, she also told me that."
~"Then why?"
-"Because, as I said before, I like you. If it wasn't for you, this game would be hell on earth, filled with despair and fear. From the first day, you took care of me, saving me from the powerlessness I felt. Since then, I always had some expectations, but knowing that you're married to Elysia, I thought it was hopeless."
She squeezed my arm slightly.
-"But later, I learned that it's not just Elysia that has such a relationship with you. At first, I was a little disillusioned, but later, I began to imagine how it would be if I was in their place. To be honest, I'm still a little hesitant about being with someone with many partners, but after Elysia's advice, I decided not to regret not trying."
~"Asuna."
-"You won't reject me, right?"
~"I have no reason to reject you, but I'd still advise you to take it slow."
-"I know. That's what I always planned to do."
I nodded and took out a few documents from my inventory to pass them to her.
-"This is?"
~"Some things I found about the person your parents fancy for you."
Asuna quickly focused on the pages in her hands, reading through them while paying attention to all the details.
-"..."
~"After we finish SAO, that person won't be free for much longer."
-"Good."-She spoke through gritted teeth, disgusted not only by Sugou Nobuyuki's actions but more so by her parents pushing her into this fire pit.
~"I'll limit the impact on your family, but most likely, your father will have to retire early."
-"I don't care. It's impossible for my father to be fully unaware of what that person was doing, and yet..."-She clenched her fists, tearing the paper while trying her best to calm down.
Seeing her distress, I stopped and embraced her lightly, lending her my shoulder. She buried herself in my arms and cried quietly, venting all the emotions that she had suppressed for so long. I felt quite empathetic for her, knowing how hard it can be to exist as a tool for one's parents' ambitions and ideas.
As we were standing here, I felt a gaze drilling into the back of my head. Glancing back, I met eyes with Mito, who was hiding on the corner a few streets away. Looking into her eyes, I could see a storm of different emotions, but she quickly covered them after noticing me looking at her.
She matched my gaze, and after a moment of staring, she mouthed a few words before turning back and disappearing from my view.
I smiled slightly, amused by Mito's awkward and cute actions. Putting that matter aside for now, I focused on still crying Asuna, trying my best to soothe her despite my lack of talent in that field. Luckily, after a few minutes, Asuna calmed down, though she still remained in my arms, this time hiding out of shyness.
Sometime later, we found a quiet coffee shop to sit in and drink while talking about ourselves. I tried my best to conceal as few things as possible, but some things couldn't be said due to this world's will, which would reject me if the concealment used before descending here was weakened by the unveiling of those secrets. Asuna was also understanding, not asking things that shouldn't be asked, though she mostly focused on my other partners, which was somewhat awkward.
It was only when the sun started to set we decided to return. As we were saying our goodbyes at our guild house doors, Asuna approached me and pecked me on the cheek before running to her room. Feeling refreshed by such girly behavior, I for once thanked Elysia for talking all her nonsense to Asuna, making her approach me. I also looked at the remaining two figures, who finally stopped hiding and approached me.
~"Had enough fun watching?"
-"Next floor, I'll be the one taking you on a date."-Elysia tried her best to look jealous, but the smile in her eyes couldn't be hidden.
~"Sure."~I agreed with her demand while looking at her with slight surprise.~"You..."
-"Finally noticed?"
~"Faith? Not exactly..."
-"It is faith but in a purer form. Emotions."-Elysia showed a beautiful smile, feeling proud of what she achieved.-"As you advised, I tried to understand [Hope] and my artifact, the [Torch of Bellif], and after consulting Astraea and Xipe, I found a way for myself."
~"I see. Faith is born from emotions, after all, like Hope."
-"Yes. I decided to become a true goddess of beauty, not one who cares about superficial charm but one who makes all the beautiful emotions bloom. I will use [Hope] to turn all the sadness, despair, and anger into love, happiness, and joy."-As she spoke, looking into my eyes, I could feel a small divine spark slowly liting up deep in her spirit, her bright purple eyes glowed with divine radiance.
I approached her while continuing to look into her eyes, and after confirming her determination, I kissed her forehead, giving her my blessing as a Spirit.
This was my first time performing this kind of rite, but as this was the instinctive power of every Spirit, I could also use it freely. Spirit's blessing gives its recipient the right to use Spirit's name but not its power, meaning Elsyia now will be respected by other spirits as if they were standing before me, though she can't command them nor use nature like I.
-"This?"-She touched her forehead, surprised by my action.
~"I know that you won't accept too much assistance now that you decided on your destination, but as your husband, I can't just stand by."~I smiled cute expression.
Hearing this, she also smiled and took revenge on me by kissing my forehead like I did to her.
-"It's something I need to do myself, but I'm happy for your blessing."
~"Now that I think about it, always after you meet with someone, they will start to gravitate to me... Mind explaining?"
-"This..."-She scratched the back of her head awkwardly.
~"I hope you didn't influence them forcefully."
-"No, no!"-She waved franticly.-"I haven't done anything like that.
I just wanted to see their emotions bloom and their wishes come to fruition. You should know that after getting to know you, many have some expectations hidden in their hearts. I just... motivated them..."
Seeing her avoid eye contact, I knew that there was something more to it, but as it was not harming anyone, I decided to let it slide.
~"Sigh, after you return, admit your mistakes to Astraea and Ningguang and let them decide."
-"Ugh... I'll do so."
~"Please, make sure she does, Eden."~I finally addressed my last stalker.
-"Sure."
-"Mou, you two."-Elysia pouted at us.
~"Up for some meal?"~ I presented my left arm to Eden as Elysia held my right one.
-"Please."-Eden linked her arm with mine.
Tree of us walked to the living room where, one by one, other Flame Chasers joined us. After a hearty meal, we discussed our plans, but as all those plans were about conquering the next floors, there was not much to discuss. In the end, as it was already getting late, everyone decided to call it a day.
In my room, I quickly caught up on today's matters from the report given to me by Sakura, who took my responsibilities on the first floor, as I waited for someone. After ten or so minutes, I heard my doors being opened and closed. I looked up from the papers to meet eyes with my late-night guest.
-"Yue."-Mito spoke awkwardly, still having trouble to calm her emotions.
~"Mito, how can I help you?"
-"I want you to leave Asuna alone."
~"I see."~I was expecting something like this, but it still surprised me slightly.~"I know you care about Asuna, but you shouldn't meddle with her life in such a way."
-"I..."
~"Not to mention, you had eavesdropped on our conversation, so you should know about Asuna's troubles. By doing what you are doing now, if I were someone with ulterior motives, you would have put Asuna in a bad position."
-"..."
~"And let's not kid ourselves here. You yourself don't really think that I'm trying to harm her, so calm down first and then tell me what is on your mind."~I stood up and went to the small kitchenette to make tea for us while Mito looked at me.
After a few minutes, I placed a cup before Mito, who sat on the couch and poured her some of the tea I had prepared. After sitting next to her, I took a small sip before continuing our conversation.
~"Tell me, are you here because of Asuna, me, or maybe yourself?"
She looked up from a cup, showing her eyes widened in surprise.
~"While I rarely do so, I can read your thoughts, so I know that you are not truly mad about me and Asuna, though I don't want to invite your privacy, so I didn't look for why you are here tonight."
-"Sigh."-She lowered her head and looked at the tea in front of her before speaking quietly.-"It's not that I think that you will harm her, just... I fear that you can't give her what she deserves. Living as some underground lover... Can you truly make it right for her?"
~"We both know that my words alone won't convince you, but I promise you that I will never make her suffer any disgrace. This I vow on my name, Yue."
As I had thought, she wasn't truly convinced by my words, but she looked at me again, looking into my eyes as if trying to convince herself to believe me. In the end, she sighed in resignation.
-"I can't do anything to you and Asuna, so I have to believe you, right."-After speaking, she held her head in her hands as if enduring a great headache.-"Ugh... But don't think I'll let you go if something happens to Asuna! I will follow you to make sure she is all right!"-Mito spoke while still covering her face.
I glanced at her, but after seeing the redness of her ears, I decided not to point out her weak excuse to save her embarrassment and simply continued to sip my tea. Even the calm and strong Mito was, in the end, just a teenage girl, so seeing her finally behave like one was a cherry on top of this already fantastic day.