[Alfheim Online, World Tree City]
Once Agil remembered to breathe, or let Malzeno breathe, we were given a pretty sweet deal for our potions. What would've cost around eight-thousand Col was now twenty percent off! So I chose pretty well. "Bye-bye, Agil!" I called back with a wave.
"Pleasure, seeya two around," He offered back as the door shut and Malzeno sighed in relief.
"Could've sworn he would tax me into oblivion, but I guess being a Rat of a Rat helps..." Malzeno chuckled half-heartedly.
"You help this informant alot, huh?" I commented as we walked again, I had found our hands joined as Agil had started to try and barter with Malzeno, so he grabbed mine and quickly pulled us out of that trap. It was strange but it felt really normal to hold his hand. Guess friends do that, right? I mean, he doesn't seem to mind.
"Yeah, Argo's been helping players with all sorts of business, I was one before she basically hired me, I tend to do the hairy jobs, jotting down exploits, game-breaking glitches, and cheaters," He replied, nudging my shoulder. "Like you."
"Hey, I'm all natural skill thank you!" I snorted but that only made him laugh once.
"Don't I know it, I nearly died to it," He shivered then stared up at the sun peeking around the World Tree. "Well then, any other stops or should we get back to plot out our plan of action?"
I rubbed my chin in thought, "The others won't be online until twelve so we have time to do that, yeah," We needed to cover all flaws in our plan for this test to last as long as possible. Every move we could learn would put us a step closer to our goal.
"Oh, Mal!" I saw him stand up straighter with a slight sigh, turning around to the voice. "Good morning," It was a girl, a very beautiful girl.
"Yo, Princess, early riser too?" He greeted casually. Ah, so this was 'Princess', well, he's not wrong, she looked really sweet. She was an Undine with long, light blue hair with a braid wrapped around the back of her head and bright blue eyes. Her cloth gear was white and blue, as expected of an Undine.
"Of course, I wanted to get a few things done solo before the others - huh, who's this?" She paused, pointing at me as I brightened up.
"I'm Yuuki, Zeno's newest party leader!"
"Against my will," He added with a finger raised to which I poked his side, making him jerk.
"Oh, I'm Asuna, nice to meet you," She smiled as I stepped forward to take in her appearance.
"Zeno never told me he had a really beautiful friend like you, I'm jealous!" I gushed as Asuna was a little taken back by the compliment but remained happy.
"T-Thank you, Yuuki, though you look cute yourself," I giggled at the praise, rubbing the back of my head. Then Asuna's smile grew. "You two seem really close."
Wait, where was she looking? I looked down with Malzeno at our joint hands. Almost without thinking, we pulled apart as I looked down at my feet, heat bursting from my skin as Malzeno looked the other way. God, why am I getting all hot and bothered now? We were doing this all day.
"I-It's not like that, we, uh, we're just friends," I stammered quickly but I saw that look, Siune did the same after Malzeno first logged off in front of us, I couldn't get her or Nori off my case for an hour. So embarrassing!
"Very accurate, yes," Malzeno nodded quickly but Asuna leaned forward, narrowing her eyes at him as he leaned back nervously. "Please don't set me on fire with your mind, I like my avatar," He hugged himself.
"You sure? You better not be tricking this sweet, innocent girl," She warned in a low tone, making Malzeno's fearful face lax slightly with a flat stare.
"Need I remind you we're both friends of Argo, the ability to trick people rubs off on you - and I realize I'm digging that hole wider," He pinched his nose then spoke. "I give you my word I am devoting all my time and energy into helping her guild clear a floor boss,"
That drew Asuna's body back to look at me, surprised. "Argo said about that, so it's true, but how, you'd need at minimum, thirty-five players, not to mention resources... it's..." She tried to find the word.
"Unrealistic?" We replied as one, seeing her nod slowly as I continued with a closed-eyed smile.
"Yeah, I get that alot, but... this is important to me and my guild. Every time we've failed I only wanted to try harder, to do just a little more, we have to," My eyes fell to my hands for a moment. "I don't care what's impossible or out of reach, I've seen people do the impossible time and again so it means my goal is reachable. Like the survivors of SAO, lots of news reports talked about how dangerous and almost unwinnable the situation was, and yet, they escaped, they beat the death game despite the odds, so I want to do the same, defy all expectations head-on!"
Asuna stared at me with a strange look in her eyes, like, it was exactly what she needed to hear. Her smile was warmer, making her look even brighter than before. "That's a really powerful statement, Yuuki, I think you'll be alright," She glanced at Malzeno who was giving me a blank look, his eyes wide as he remained lost in thought. "Mal's a bit of a weirdo, but you can rely on him, he's done alot to earn mine and everyone else's trust,"
What's that mean?
"Huh, what?" He snapped back to reality. "Ah, uh, sorry, got caught up in memory lane again," He grinned and briefly, Asuna flashed him a worried look. "But yeah, can't wait to see the looks on their faces when we beat them, I gotta record it," He held up a blue recording gemstone with a cheeky smile. "I'll treasure it for all eternity."
"You can be so childish sometimes..." Asuna placed her fingers over her face a moment.
"Aaaand back to insults," He waved, turning around. "Well, I'm not needed, I've got a weapon shop to... acquire some items."
He left me with Asuna as I sighed. "He's gonna come back an Orange Player..." I'm not bailing him out.
Asuna made a weird face then relaxed it when we looked at each other. "I may have teased him too much, sorry, he can get really flustered and does this sort of thing to let off some steam," Is that so? I'll keep that in mind. "But you do look really cute together so I couldn't help it." She laughed a little.
"I-It's fine, he's a nice guy and I know about him being in hot water with some players but that just makes it more exciting," I chuckled, looking to where his head disappeared down the street. "I've never fought an archer before, he really is good,"
"Hm, he's even stronger with a sword, but... well," Asuna motioned for me to scoot closer, not that he could hear us now but it must've been serious by the worried look on her face. "Kirito and I know him well, and, he's reluctant to use swords anymore, but when he did his skill was impressive, maybe not as quick as I've heard you are, Zekken, but Mal's a very strong swordsman regardless."
"Then why is he reluctant? I'd love to see him fight with a sword!" I protested but Asuna patted my shoulder, it was really soothing, like what my sister would've done.
"Maybe if you can get him to open up, he might, but be careful, like I said, he can get flustered and then draw himself away from the topic," Then she winked at me. "But I think he likes you enough to consider it."
"Eh?" He likes me? Well, not to toot my own horn I am pretty likable. I honestly thought I was annoying him at times, but... he hasn't left me yet, so maybe... "I'll... see what I can do, you can leave him to me, Asuna!"
She giggled, then a friend request popped up. "Then I have nothing to worry about!"
I like her, she seems to know Kirito too, wonder if that means she knows about my secret? Well, she's really nice, and gorgeous to boot, maybe we can quest sometime?
Well, guess we'll see...
[To Be Continued...]
[Author's Notes]
I like Asuna in the Mother's Rosario Arc, she feels like she was back in the Aincrad Arc, strong, capable but vulnerable to her insecurities like any other person, not needy and a little annoying like in the Fairy Dance Arc to Phantom Bullet, but that's just me I guess. Love her characterisation in the Progressive series though. I hope you enjoyed, I appreciate the support, seeya in the next chapter, Readers!