Hearing that, Asagiri only nodded, neither confirming nor denying. Then he smiled softly.
"I don't know much about kendo, but I trust your judgnt completely. Tell what you think."
At the words trust your judgnt completely, warmth quietly rose in Yuuki Asuna's chest. She nodded, surprisingly obedient, and spoke in a low voice.
"I think the unusual posture Shinomiya instinctively took when she held the bamboo sword has to be connected to her Player abilities. It could be a talent. It could be a skill. Or it could be a very special weapon."
Asuna paused, choosing her words carefully.
"As for the exact effect, I can only guess. It might be sothing like firing the blade in the direction she aims. Or releasing energy from the tip, similar to my Stinger. Or maybe her longsword extends and pierces enemies from a distance."
Although Asuna didn't usually take the lead on analysis when she cleared Dungeons with Asagiri, Iwanaga Kotoko, and Kato gumi, that was only because Asagiri and Kotoko were both strong thinkers.
It was never because Asuna was dull.
On the contrary, she was sharp, observant, and quick to connect details. In an ordinary team, she could easily serve as the strategist.
"I see."
Asagiri nodded, as if it all fit into place.
Asuna pursed her lips and smiled, a little helpless.
"Observing Shinomiya's movents might give us useful information and intelligence. That's the real reason you wanted involved in the campaign, and why you insisted Shinomiya had to personally step onto the stage to win the kendo club's support, right?"
"You got it."
Asagiri didn't bother denying it. He answered with a casual smile, as if he were admitting sothing obvious.
"You also know I'm not great with longswords, and my observation isn't as sharp as yours."
He turned his head and looked at her seriously, as if he ant every word.
"Without you, I can't pull it off."
Asuna's face ward instantly. She snorted, trying to hide it.
"You were doing fine before you t . You're just saying that to make happy again, aren't you?"
Asagiri replied with solemn sincerity.
"I could have endured the darkness, if I had not seen the light."
Asuna's face went even redder. She lowered her voice in embarrassnt.
"That's way too cheesy. Watch it, we're still at school."
"Shuchiin Academy doesn't ban dating," Asagiri answered indifferently.
Then his gaze slid to the two figures walking ahead, Fujiwara Chika and Kaguya Shinomiya.
"It's just that even dating has a so called class distinction here. People like Fujiwara Chika and Kaguya Shinomiya are at the top of the school's hierarchy. Even though they're cute, and Fujiwara has a great personality, most ordinary boys probably don't even have the courage to talk to them."
Asuna's brows pulled together, discomfort rising in her chest.
"Even sothing like that has class distinctions… that's just…"
"Normal, actually."
Asagiri's tone remained calm.
"Prominent families use Shuchiin Academy as a platform for their children to marry into other prominent families. It's been that way since ancient tis. But compared to Fujiwara, Shinomiya's position is… awkward."
"You an… her background?"
Because they'd already discussed the risk of Kaguya Shinomiya and Fujiwara Chika being Players, Asuna had heard the rumors from Iwanaga Kotoko, including the most famous one.
Kaguya Shinomiya, despite being the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya Family, was said to be an illegitimate child, born to Shinomiya Gan'an and a woman from a nightlife establishnt.
And so rumors went even further.
They claid she might not even be Shinomiya Gan'an's biological daughter.
Asuna looked at Kaguya's back, her gaze turning complicated, her voice softening with a quiet ache.
"Because of those rumors… Shinomiya beca like this. Always trying to prove she deserves the Shinomiya na. Always trying to prove she's excellent. Always trying to prove she's really her father's daughter… She's been carrying that weight the whole ti."
Asuna had a strong competitive streak, but she was also genuinely gentle.
And Kaguya's childhood situation, honestly, was enough to make anyone's heart tighten.
"Yes," Asagiri said simply. "It's pitiful."
Asuna let out a small sigh.
"I just hope she doesn't beco our enemy. If that happens… we'll have to…" She hesitated, then murmured, "I hope it never cos to that."
…
Ten minutes later, they reached the entrance of Shuchiin Academy's indoor basketball court, the basketball club's exclusive gym.
"Hm?"
Fujiwara Chika's smile stiffened the mont she saw the scene at the door.
A row of students in basketball uniforms stood there like a wall, faces stern and focused, like soldiers about to march into battle.
Fujiwara still forced a smile and opened her mouth.
"Um, may I ask for your captain…"
"Step aside."
Before she could finish, a senior boy over 1.95 ters tall spoke, his shoulders broad, his presence almost oppressive.
He walked forward slowly, then stopped directly in front of Asagiri.
His voice was low and heavy.
"You are… Utsunomiya Asagiri?"
The air grew tense enough to choke.
Kaguya Shinomiya frowned slightly.
Was the basketball captain one of those extre pure division students who wanted to "teach Utsunomiya a lesson" for his past remarks?
No matter what, Utsunomiya was her Vice President.
They could argue privately all they wanted, but soone bullying her Vice President right in front of her?
Kaguya would never allow it.
"Student, watch your tone…"
"Shinomiya, it's fine."
Asagiri lifted a hand, stopping her calmly.
Then he looked at the towering captain in front of him. The faint smile on his face slowly vanished.
"Yes," he said. "That's ."
"Hm."
The captain stared at him, scanning him from head to toe as if confirming a legend.
After a long mont, he spoke again.
"I watched your middle school ga footage. To be honest, when I found out you were on this year's first year enrollnt list, I, and the basketball club…"
He paused, then delivered words that completely exceeded Yuuki Asuna, Kaguya Shinomiya, and Fujiwara Chika's expectations.
"We all felt fortunate."
He tightened his jaw.
"Because even if you don't join the basketball club, at least we won't have to face you on the court."
"Huh?"
Fujiwara Chika looked completely bewildered. She leaned toward Asuna and whispered.
"From what he's saying… Utsunomiya is that strong? So strong they feel lucky they won't be his opponent?"
Asuna hesitated, whispering back.
"I don't know… I only know he won the championship twice in middle school. I don't understand basketball, and I've never seen him play. He should be pretty good, though."
Fujiwara puffed her cheeks, complaining softly.
"You don't even know how strong your own boyfriend is? That's seriously unqualified girlfriend behavior."
Asuna went silent.
From Fujiwara and Kaguya's perspective, Asagiri's flashiest traits were his academic excellence, his sports achievents, and his face.
But for Asuna, Iwanaga Kotoko, and Kato gumi, compared to his feats in Dungeons, turning the tide, saving collapsing situations, and being called the strongest leader, things like national championships and exam rankings barely registered as noteworthy anymore.
Asagiri listened to the captain, then answered lightly.
"Fear before fighting isn't sothing an athlete should have."
"That's why…"
The captain's expression was dead serious.
"Please play a ga with us."
"Oh?" Asagiri's brows lifted slightly. "A ga?"
"Yes."
The captain's fists tightened at his sides.
"If I never face you on the court, I'll never forgive the version of myself that felt relieved just because you weren't my opponent."
Asagiri smiled faintly. He didn't agree imdiately. Instead, he asked the key question.
"If I accept, will you support Kaguya Shinomiya for Student Council President?"
"No problem."
The answer ca without hesitation.
Fujiwara Chika and Kaguya Shinomiya both froze, genuinely thrown off.
What… was happening?
They hadn't even ntioned funding, new equipnt, or court repairs.
As long as Utsunomiya played a ga, the basketball club would support Kaguya's campaign?
Was this negotiation?
Or was this just Asagiri's personal charm working like so kind of forbidden skill?
If so, would the tennis club and badminton club also be the sa? Would they also fold the mont Asagiri offered a match?
"Kaguya."
Fujiwara Chika patted Kaguya Shinomiya's shoulder. For once, her tone was unusually serious.
"Your decision to recruit Utsunomiya for the election was absolutely correct."
.....
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