Chapter 56: A Plate of Cookies.

"Okay, this is really freaky." Asuna Yuuki is now on edge. She flicks a stray strand of her long, orange-brownish chestnut hair from her face and narrows her hazel eyes on the plate of rapidly disappearing freshly baked cookies she kept on the table a moment ago. This is really strange and for the first time in a while she misses her armour and rapier from her Sword Art Online days. But it's better not to think about those days now. She is not like Kirito, still trapped in the past and looking for a way to achieve past glories. Thinking about him gets her nowhere. She is better off dealing with the present situation. "Is someone there? Come out and face me, monster."

"Monster?" The voice is a bit incomprehensible because the person is still munching on her cookies, but she gets the sense that he has a deep voice. And those eyes, those terrifying eyes. Asuna is struck with the feeling that she is back in some dungeon, about to face some astral life form, something which cannot be killed or pierced by her rapier. But no, he is a human being, probably a student like her at this weird ass university. The feeling she is not in any danger calms her out a little. He is also now done munching her cookies and now she gets to hear his real voice. And she was right, it's deep. "I only ate a couple of your cookies and you call me a monster? That's a bit of an overreaction." He then gives her a small once over, but its nowhere sexual in nature. "You don't look like an otaku, but then again looks can be deceiving. What are you exactly?"

Asuna Yuuki doesn't know why, but the way he asked it put her nerves on edge. It's like he knows there is something strange about her even though she is done with Sword Art Online. Those days are in the past, yet the way he asked it, it's like he is waiting for her to drop back to that world where she had been trapped for what feels like a life time. But she will not give him an edge over her and she crosses her arms over her breasts and glares back at him.

"I'm the girl whose cookies you ate, how about that!" Asuna says in what she knows is a bitchy tone and he winces a little which brings her a little bit of joy. Good, that should tell him not to steal her food. She made those cookies because she is a bit of a stress-baker which is loads better than a stress-eater, but the fact of the matter stands that he stole what's her and that is something she will not let stand. "You just stole them clean off my plate. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"They were delicious." He states. "The best cookies I ever ate."

Asuna looks smug and can't help but feel a bit satisfied. "Okay, that's progress. A girl likes to be complimented on her cooking skills every now and then. But it doesn't really help your case, because I already know how good of a cook I am."

"A baker." He corrects.

Asuna Yuuki grits her teeth and smiles. It's a smile which promises death and divine retribution. "Excuse me? Want to run that by me real quick?"

The rotten dead fish eyed bastard doesn't realize his mistake until it's too late. "I meant these cookies. You baked them, right. That makes you an excellent baker. But I don't see anything which suggests you are also a magnificent chef."

"I am a magnificent chef!" Asuna says.

"You are a magnificent baker." He states.

"Okay this is ridiculous." Asuna Yuuki wants to stab him with a butter knife. The feeling of doing physical harm on another person has never been any greater than in this given instance. But she takes a calming breath and tries a different approach. "Look what is your name, cookie thief."

"Yuck, cookie thief. The way you said it makes it sound like a panty thief."

"Well, I don't really know you, not even your name, so there's a chance you can be both." Asuna Yuuki says with a triumphant smirk, finally thinking she has one upped him in their little back and forth.

This time he glares and blushes out of embarrassment, which she's not gonna lie, is a little cute. "The name's Hachiman Hikigaya and I am not a panty thief." He then makes a face like he has swallowed something vile. "Euch! That's one sentence I never thought I would have to say out loud."

And just like before, this Hachiman Hikigaya swipes another cookie from her plate and Asuna Yuuki can do nothing but gawk at his sheer audacity. "Will you stop stealing my cookies!"

"It's not stealing when I'm doing it in front of you." Hachiman said.

"Of course it is!" Asuna almost shouts. "Haven't you heard of the phrase day light robbery!"

Hachiman Hikigaya looks unimpressed. "Okay, now you are really exaggerating. First you called me a monster, then a cookie thief and now you are comparing my acts to that of a day light robbery. This level of exaggeration, you definitely sound like an otaku. But you said, you are not and I believe you. But then what…" he thinks for a while and swallows the last mouthful of cookie. An epiphany occurs not too late.

"It can't be." Hachiman inhales sharply. "You are a gamer."

Asuna Yuuki blushes. "Now whose e-exaggerating s-stuff" She fakes cough. "I'm not a gamer." Not anymore, at least, she mentally adds. Then because she can't think of a better diversion, she adds. "Here, finish the whole plate. I'm not hungry anymore."

She tries to leave, but he gets up from the corner he was in to stop her. "I'm not that hungry. We can share them."

Asuna Yuuki blushes. "Sharing food off the same plate is a rather intimate act. I would rather not do it with a complete stranger."

"Let's fix that shall we. I have already told you my name." Hachiman Hikigaya says in what he hopes sounds like a charming voice. He is not sure, though. This woman, who happened to be a gamer, is something else. He gets the feeling she is not a normal gamer. Then what, one of those VRMMORPG junkies, he thinks. But she made delicious cookies, it doesn't make sense. He wants to know more.

"Tell me yours." Hachiman asks.

"Asuna Yuuki." The woman replies. She then grabs a seat near his side and takes a bite out of one of her freshly baked cookies. Before long a smile surfaces on her face but she is quick to dispel it. What an odd little woman. In the next instance a frown and a blush is back on her face. "Don't misunderstand. Just because I am eating cookies with you doesn't mean anything."

Oh,

"Asuna Yuuki-san, can you say one thing for me?" Hachiman asks in a soft tone.

Asuna looks uncertain, but she gives in to the curiosity. "W-what?"

"Baka."

Asuna Yuuki blushes red. "Who are you calling, baka, you baka!"

"Perfect."

A/N: Two chapters in two days. Feels like the good ol' days.

Here are the options for the next chapter:

Option 1: Mikasa Ackerman – Attack on Titan.

Option 2: Hinata Hyuuga – Naruto.

Option 3: Taiga Aisaka – Toradora.

Option 4: Lucy – Elfen Lied.

Option 5: Haruhi Fujioka – Ouran High School Host Club.

Please pick any of the above options or suggest a character in the review.

Hope everyone enjoyed reading this chapter.

Leave lots and lots of reviews, follow and fave.

Won't betray your dreams.