Asuna woke up with a start, her heart racing and her mind clouded with confusion. She glanced around the familiar bedroom she shared with Kirito, realizing they had logged out of Sword Art Online and were back in the real world. Memories of the previous day's events came flooding back, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
Kirito stirred beside her, his eyes fluttering open as he looked at her with a sleepy smile. "Morning, Asuna. Did you sleep well?"
Asuna forced a smile, not wanting to worry him with her uneasiness. "Yeah, I did. It's just...I had the strangest dream last night. We were fighting a monster on the 22nd floor, and then...I don't know, something happened. It felt so real."
Kirito sat up, his brow furrowing with concern. "A monster on the 22nd floor? That's weird, I don't remember anything like that. But hey, it was just a dream, right? Let's not dwell on it and have a great day instead."
As they got ready for school, Asuna couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. She tried to push it aside, but her unease only grew as they walked through the crowded hallways of their high school.
As they walked hand in hand, a familiar voice called out to them. "Hey, Kirito! Asuna!"
They turned to see Hiro waving at them, a wide grin plastered on his face. Asuna's heart sank as she remembered her dream, her senses heightening with suspicion.
"Hiro? What are you doing here?" Kirito asked, confused but friendly.
"I just transferred to this school," Hiro replied, his eyes lingering on Asuna a little too long for comfort. "It's been a while since we've all hung out together."
Asuna forced a smile, trying to hide her discomfort. "That's true. It's good to see you again, Hiro."
After school, Asuna headed to the volleyball club practice, excited to play and take her mind off her strange dream and the unsettling encounter with Hiro. As she changed into her sports attire, she couldn't help but feel like someone was watching her. She shook off the feeling and focused on the game.
The tournament went well, and Asuna's team emerged victorious. As she changed back into her school uniform after the match, she heard someone enter the changing room. To her surprise, it was Hiro.
"Hiro? What are you doing here?" Asuna asked, her voice laced with suspicion.
Hiro grinned, holding up his phone. "Oh, just admiring the view. You look great in that uniform, Asuna."
Before Asuna could respond, Hiro snapped a picture of her. Panic rose in her chest as she realized what he was doing.
"Delete that picture, Hiro," she demanded, snatching his phone away from him. "You can't just take photos of people without permission."
Hiro's grin turned sinister. "Or what, Asuna? You'll tell Kirito? I don't think so. I have plenty more where that came from, and I'd hate for them to get out. It would be such a shame for Kirito to see his girlfriend like this, wouldn't it?"
Asuna's heart raced as she realized she was being blackmailed. She had no choice but to comply with Hiro's demands, at least for now. She handed back his phone, her mind reeling with anger and fear.
"What do you want from me, Hiro?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Hiro's eyes glinted with malice. "Oh, don't worry about that, Asuna. I'll let you know when I need something. Just remember, I'm always watching." With those chilling words, Hiro left the changing room, leaving Asuna shaken and terrified. She knew she had to find a way to break free from Hiro's control, but for now, she had no choice but to play along. As she gathered her belongings and left the changing room, she couldn't shake the feeling that her life was spiraling out of control. Little did she know, the events that unfolded in Sword Art Online were about to cross over into her reality, blurring the lines between the virtual and the physical world in ways she could never have imagined. As she made her way home that day, her mind raced with fear and uncertainty, the weight of Hiro's blackmail hanging heavily over her.
-End of chapter 2-