Standing at the entrance of an ancient Japanese-style building, Suguha, who had taken off her shoes, slightly raised her voice and looked at the black-haired girl in front of her, who put her hands together and smiled apologetically.
It was originally planned to let Suguha go home and put away all the things for today's competition, and take a break at her house before sending Yuuki back to the hospital.
As a result, when they arrived at Suguha's house, Yuuki suddenly said that there was an emergency and she had to go back to the hospital immediately.
"Then wait for me here, change your clothes and I'll get off right away... Xiaoyou——!"
To be honest, Suguha was really worried about letting this patient who was a little out of line in some aspects go back alone.
However, just when Suguha was hurriedly preparing to go upstairs, she found that the black-haired girl had already trotted out for some distance in the middle of her instructions.
"No need, it's not far from the hospital. You're very tired today, so just take a good rest. Bye--"
The sound gradually faded away, and it seemed that it would soon be no longer audible.
"Ah - really, that idiot."
Complaining and placing the bamboo sword holster on the aisle, Suguha, who couldn't let go at all, quickly walked down, put on her shoes again and prepared to chase out.
"Suguha? What's wrong? Are you going out again?"
At the corner of the second floor, a handsome-looking young man yawned and walked down the escalator.
Seeing Suguha looking like she was getting ready to go out without having time to change into casual clothes, she asked in a strange voice.
"Huh? Brother? Did you stay up late again? Alas... neither of them makes me worry. It's obviously someone else's game today..."
Muttering the last word of complaint that the handsome young man could not hear, Suguha adjusted her heels, and Suguha just sighed.
…
Kiritani Kazuto, that’s Suguha’s brother’s name.
It was clear that they had a good relationship before, but Suguha didn't know exactly when the two of them started to become estranged.
Recently, this tendency seems to be getting more and more serious, almost to the point where the conversation can no longer continue after greeting each other.
Was this change the day he gave up kendo, or was it the day he became addicted to online games after he entered junior high school...
But even so, in Suguha's heart, she still believed that after her brother's 'rebellious period' passed, their family could still go back to the days when the four of them sat happily at the dinner table and chatted.
"Okay, brother, I'm going out. We'll decide on dinner when I get back. If you feel hungry, there's still some food in the refrigerator. You can warm it up first. Now I have to send that idiot back."
Glancing at Kazuto's profile from the corner of his vision, Suguha chased the person in the direction he was leaving in a hurry.
"ah……"
Standing there with his mouth slightly open, the boy who clearly wanted to say something, but his face was still a little immature, did not say it after all.
…
"Xiaoyu——!"
In the corridor, Yuuki slowed down as she heard the nickname that only acquaintances would call from behind, knowing that the warm-hearted girl was still worried.
(...Our formal meeting will have to wait until later.)
(That day should not be far away, Mr. Black Swordsman.)
Looking at the sky slightly, the black-haired girl showed a mysterious smile.
…
After that, Yuuki not only received Suguha's "full of love" lectures on the road, but was also caught in the act by the angry Dr. Kurahashi at the entrance of the hospital, and was sent to the psychological guidance room for two hours of treatment.
"You really dare to do it...that uncle will definitely not be able to find a girlfriend in the future!"
Sitting on the bed, with the admission lecture video still echoing in her mind, Yuuki rubbed her temples and kept cursing angrily.
"It's so rude to say that. Dr. Kurahashi is also doing it for your own good. Besides, I also have something wrong with me."
Sitting on the edge peeling an apple with a wry smile, Lanzi said softly.
"...I'm sorry, Sister Lan, for keeping you so late."
Looking at her sister with some regret, Yuuki knew that she had also suffered a lot today.
As for Suguha, of course she is the ‘traitor’ who is on Dr. Kurahashi’s side!
After sending Yuuki safely back to the hospital and chatting with Lanzi for a while, he decisively escaped.
What a careless friend.
"It doesn't matter. Originally, I planned to wait until my parents came in the evening and go back with them."
Shaking her head, Lanzi told what Yuuki had been careless about today.
(Ah - I just thought I forgot something else today...)
She looked like she was about to suffer. Although her parents in this life did not come every day like Lan Zi due to work and health reasons, they basically took turns to come every week without missing seven days, and they would be there together most of the time on weekends.
.
Judging from Dr. Kurahashi's anger level today, a lawsuit is a certainty.
Although her family would not scold her, her father's melancholy eyes and mother's doting gaze would make her feel uncomfortable.
It seems that today’s ‘ideological education’ is far from over…
Just when Yuuki was thinking about how to defend herself with a grimace, the public TV outside the room sounded the news that concerned her.
[Hello, viewers~ Welcome to this episode of "MMO Stream"! ]
[Everyone, please watch! This is today’s live video of the “Sord Art Online” game launch event!]
[Yeah~ Look at the huge crowds. As the world’s first fully stealth VRMMORPG, this game has already attracted the attention of a large number of players before testing. It is no exaggeration to say that it has attracted the most attention! 】
[Today’s event is said to be for the purpose of choosing...]
"Sord Art Online...? I remember this is not..."
Repeating the name broadcast on the news, Aiko turned her attention to the pamphlet Yuuki placed by her bedside.
There is a beautiful picture of this logo written on the cover.
"Ah - Xiaoyou, could it be said that you..."
With an expression similar to the surprise that Suguha had when she first found out, Aiko kept looking at the brochure that Yuuki had picked up.
"Ah, I'm very interested."
"The development technology of this game..."
"Forehead……"
The person who spoke frankly changed his tone and turned the booklet to the page of development instructions, which was full of technical terms that Lan Zi couldn't understand.
Unlike herself who was an ordinary person, she sighed helplessly knowing that her sister was a 'genius'.
I thought this girl finally got the idea...
(I'm not lying, I am indeed very interested in the "technology" of this game...)
After blinking, Yuuki continued chatting with Aiko with a smile.
At this moment, she hadn't noticed that the phone she had set to silent on the side of her pillow was vibrating with the sound of a text message.
The text message that Yuuki hadn’t checked yet read like this——
[Congratulations, Ms. Konno Kapoki, you are lucky enough to be selected as a test player of "Sord Art Online". We will send relevant examples to your email. Please pay attention to our follow-up contact, thank you for your support.] (Unfinished