I got some requests for drama so here's my best shot at it. I hope it's to your liking!
Disclaimer: I do not own Sword Art Online.
Chapter 37. A Little Trouble
As Kazuto and Asuna finished drying themselves off, they decided to head back to the other room to have their lunch.
Kazuto slung his towel over his shoulder casually, whereas Asuna wrapped hers around her entire body.
At first, Kazuto was going to object and insist she keep it off, but then he decided against it. Asuna saw that he intended to say something and tilted her head curiously. "What is it?"
"No, it's nothing." He shook his head. "Just... yeah I guess it's better if you do keep it on. Best not to break the heart of every guy in this place." His lips curled into a smug smirk. Asuna blushed at the implications behind his words and tried to cover even more of herself that she already had.
They headed back to the other room where they had left their things, and the room was much more crowded than before. It appeared many other people had decided to return to eat here as well, and it was bustling with chatting voices. Most other people still wore their swimwear, so they assumed it was permitted to eat here without changing.
As the two of them took their seats, Kazuto brought the picnic basket up from underneath the table. "I was beginning to worry someone might steal such an exquisite meal." He sighed in relief.
"I'm not sure how many other people would be able to handle it, what with your spice-loving preferences." Asuna put in as she unwrapped his sandwich and handed it to him.
She had known they would probably be hungrier than usual after swimming for so long, so she was glad she had thought to pack extra: several rice balls, along with small bento boxes and water bottles were soon placed on the table as well.
"Ha." He smirked. "We don't have to spend our money at the overpriced food court and we get to eat better food. Everyone else is so unfortunate." He sang these words as though blessing his own fortune.
"Don't say such things in public..." Asuna mumbled from across the table. "You'll make me blush..."
"Aha sorry about that." Kazuto gave a wide grin as she shyly bowed her head. "Now then, let's eat!"
They said their thanks before taking their long-awaited first bites into their food. Asuna relished Kazuto's blissful expression more than the taste of the food and was constantly battling giggles as she chewed.
After a few minutes, she began to feel hot even though there was air conditioning in this room, and Kazuto noticed too. "Unless you're still embarrassed from earlier, I think you're looking a bit red."
"Well don't remind me of something that will make me blush even more!" She puffed her cheeks out into a pout. "I guess it's because there are so many people in here."
"You know you should-"
"I know, I know, I'm taking it off, okay?" Sighing, she unraveled the yellow towel from around her body and left it hanging loosely over her shoulders, although her stomach, and of course her stunning bathing suit, were now exposed. "D-Don't stare, Kirito-kun!" She hissed, lightly kicking his shin.
"R-Right. Wouldn't want to draw even more unnecessary attention to you." He said, clearing his throat.
Even though she had barely moved when she removed her towel, as she continued to eat she felt as though more eyes were upon her now, but she did her best to ignore them.
Rather, she focused her attention on a group of girls with dyed hair and overbearing make-up sitting a few tables away that were ogling her boyfriend as they giggled. She felt her ears grow hot as a feeling of possessiveness crept into her chest and she sent silent glares at them until she finally caught one girl's eyes. Asuna only held her gaze for half a second, but her intent was as clear as day, and the other girl quickly turned around to hush her gaggle of friends. Asuna let out a satisfied snort, not unlike a mare who had just defended her mate from a pack of wolves.
"What are you doing?" Kazuto asked as he noticed her glaring intensely behind him.
"Ah, oh it's nothing. Just making my position known." She added the second part quietly so he could not hear. He stared at her for a moment longer before shrugging it off.
Eventually they finished up, and Kazuto gathered the trash. "I'm gonna go throw everything away and then change." He said, grabbing his bag with his clothes in it. "Then you can go change when I come back."
"Okay." She gave him a tiny wave as he headed off.
When he had gone, Asuna could almost feel the manifestation of the stares she was receiving, and she clutched her towel closer to her shoulders, but she sat up straight and held her chin out, making sure her expression did not show her unease.
However, she swallowed when she noticed a group of three boys stand up from a nearby table, all wearing only their swimsuits. Please don't come this way, please don't, please... She begged in her mind. But their hungry smirks and swaying shoulders told her she would not be so lucky and after a minute, the three of them had appeared in front of her.
Asuna had closed her eyes and rested her elbows on the table, and she put her chin on her hands and tried to appear in a state of meditation or sleep, praying they leave her be.
"Hey, there cutie." She heard a gruff voice. She was instantly irked by the obvious attempt at flirtation even though she was clearly with someone else. But they don't know he's my boyfriend, I guess. So I should be nice.
She realized they had been looking at her for a while now and probably would not believe she had so conveniently fallen asleep. Feeling a little adventurous, she decided to crack one eye open with a tiny hint of a condescending air.
"Can I help you?" She asked calmly. She had been planning on being polite, as they honestly could just be strangely nice and saying hello, but her nice demeanor shattered instantly when one of them rudely invited himself to sit in Kazuto's seat.
"Uh, yeah maybe you can." He smirked.
"Excuse me-" She tried to sound tart, but he was not interested in what she had to say.
"Damn you're hot." He went on, leaning forward and staring at her in the highest level of intrusiveness.
"You wanna come home with us?" Another one asked.
Asuna had been willing to try and keep talking as politely as possible to them, but that comment struck the second strike.
"In case you couldn't tell, I'm already with someone today." She glared up at the one who had spoken, so intensely that he and the other one who was still standing took a step back. She then glared back at the one sitting in front of her. "So I must kindly ask that you please leave his seat."
But just then, a fourth boy came up from behind her and blatantly placed a hand on her shoulder.
"What do you think you're-?!" But Asuna's outraged exclamation was cut off yet again.
"I've been watching you all day," he continued as though she had never spoken a word, and what he said only served to make her angrier as well as uncomfortable. "And you're way too good for that kid who's following you around-"
That was the final straw.
Asuna stood instantly, smacking the fourth boy's arm away so hard he stumbled backward. She slammed her palms down onto the table, making a loud clattering sound that drew the attention of several other people.
"Don't you dare talk as if you know him!" She shouted, infuriated. "He's a thousand times the man you could ever hope to be! So you'd best be off before I lose my control altogether!"
"Oh, scary!" One of them mocked. Asuna sent an icy glare his way before taking a threatening step in that direction. Two of the boys then promptly retreated. The one who was like the alpha male clicked his tongue in annoyance before standing as well and turning back to Asuna.
"Now listen here, you bitch-"
"No you listen to me-"
"What did you just call her?"
The enraged discourse Asuna had intended to bombard him with fell short when a familiar voice sounded from behind her. Kazuto's warm hand rested gently on her shoulder, holding her back as he stepped in front of her, squaring up to the other boy.
Asuna could tell the remaining two intruders went pale almost instantly. Several other people around them were beginning to mutter nervously and Asuna prayed things would go no further.
Luckily, the two boys glared at Asuna one last time before following the others and rushing away.
"Wait just a damn minute you bastards!" Kazuto bellowed as he started to follow them. But Asuna quickly clung onto his arm and he stopped.
"It's okay, Kirito-kun."
"It's not okay, Asuna! I heard what they said to you!"
"They were just words."
"One of them touched you."
"I'm okay."
"But still-!"
"Kirito-kun!" She earnestly said his name to reassure him that everything was all right. She slid her hands down to cover his, and he slowly entwined his fingers with hers. "It's fine."
"But it's not." He growled.
"Listen, you have no idea how happy I am about your getting so mad," she smiled. "But that's all I need. You don't have to fight them, but thanks for the thought." Her genuine smile caused him to falter, and finally he took a deep breath before sighing.
"Fine. But if I see those guys again I'll-!" He clenched his other hand into a fist but Asuna placed a hand on his shoulder and brought him back over to the table and sat down next to him.
"Forget about them. I had a lot of fun today." She nestled her forehead into his shoulder. "Possibly the most fun all summer."
Kazuto gave her a small smile in return. "Yeah..." He said doing his best to forget the troublesome events. "It was really nice, wasn't it? I'm glad you had so much fun." He lightly rested his head on top of hers and put his arm around her.
At last, the final bit of tension dissipated and they relaxed for a moment, remembering all the fun things from that day and erasing the past few minutes. But before very long, Kazuto felt her begin to shiver and realized she had not yet changed clothes.
"Hey, don't fall asleep. You should go change. I'll clean up and wait for you here." He nudged her and Asuna nodded before wrapping the yellow towel around her again and heading off.
When she returned in her dress, Kazuto picked up the picnic basket on one arm and extended his other elbow. Asuna daintily slipped her arm through his and smiled gleefully up at him.
"I wonder what we'll do next." She said dreamily.
"Hmmm... maybe a hot spring!" He chuckled.
"A-A what?"
"I'm just kidding." He teased.
"No... actually that might be kind of nice..."
"What was that?"
"Ah, oh nothing." She dismissed the topic. "We can think about it on the walk home." She suggested as they left the building.
"Sure thing." He agreed as they stepped outside and were met by the warm evening air.
As they walked, they chatted and tossed ideas around about what to do next, all the while with their arms locked proudly and a few happy bounds in their steps.
A/N: Well I tried, eheheh.
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