I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

However, after walking only a few steps, she heard rustling sounds coming from behind the curtain, and then her boyfriend poked his head out from behind it.

"what happened?"

……

Yuu Tenkuji took off his helmet, rubbed his still-aching forehead, and rested for a while in a chair.

Putting aside Asuna Yuuki's matter for the moment, he quickly got up and left the arena area. He first looked around the Virtual Research Club office, which was a bit noisy but otherwise not very unusual, and then looked at his girlfriend.

"I was playing a game when I was suddenly forced offline... It doesn't look like a power outage. Did someone unplug my helmet?"

"No, about fifteen seconds ago, the entire club building suddenly lost power, and it was quickly restored ten seconds later. The reason is still unknown."

Feeling subtly reassured, Yukino calmly explained as she walked up to him.

Suppressing the urge to reach out and hug him, she lowered her head slightly and said in a serious tone, "Although it's not good to suspect others like this... I think there's a possibility that this was done by someone, and someone is highly suspicious."

Since it happened not long ago, without much thought, two lumps of fat... no, it was Kasumigaoka Utaha who naturally popped into Yukinoshita's mind.

Although it's unclear why she cut off the power to the entire building, the fact that she asked anxiously, "Will the people inside be alright after the power outage?" and then hurriedly ran out after asking was enough for Yukino Yukinoshita to consider that upperclassman as the prime suspect.

After briefly telling Tenkuji Yu about his guesses and what had just happened, he frowned slightly and stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"Kasumigaoka-senpai... I understand. I'll investigate this later. When you have time, use your authority as class representative to check the security footage. If anyone disagrees, just call Hiratsuka-sensei."

"Okay." Yukino nodded gently, then paused slightly before suddenly asking, "Don't you get along well with Yuuki-kun? Do you know Kasumigaoka-senpai?"

"Huh? Asu and I... I don't know Kasumigaoka-senpai, but I saw her in the stairwell before. She looked at me like she saw a ghost, and I don't know why."

Tenkuji Yu was taken aback for a moment, then shrugged innocently.

“I see.” Yukino nodded knowingly, then gave him a gentle smile. “You two are so close that you’re calling each other by name.”

The phrase "a forced smile" perfectly describes her current expression. Her clear, bright eyes held no hint of a smile, and her delicate face exuded endless indifference.

If there hadn't been other people watching nearby, Yuu Tenkuji was certain she would have used her girlfriend authority to lecture him until he bowed and begged for forgiveness.

Unfortunately, Yuu Tenkuji couldn't explain it... or rather, the best way to deal with it was to simply confess, "Like Haruno and the others, she is my ex-girlfriend."

However, recalling the last scene before the connection was lost, he temporarily put aside these questions and quickly changed his question to, "You were watching our battle from outside, right? What happened in the end?"

"Finally? Finally, the light shone from Yuuki's sword, and after the whole screen was covered by the light, the power went out outside..." As if she had noticed something, Yukino tilted her head slightly, looking at his expression with some confusion.

"You're not trying to say that the power outage was caused by that light emanating from Yuuki-kun, are you?"

“It’s not impossible…” But that’s not what Yuu Tenkuji is concerned about.

In other words, no one else saw the scene where Asuna transformed and stabbed him with a sword that was so fast that he couldn't even react.

Their conversation went unheard, and no one saw the diamond ring on her hand... Although she felt a little guilty, Yuu Tenkuji couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Then comes the problem at hand.

He subconsciously touched his chest, where the rapier was pressed against him and almost pierced his heart, and cast a thoughtful gaze behind the curtain.

For example, what exactly is that light that seems to have broken through the game's limitations, not only strengthening Asuna to the point where even he can't beat her, but also materializing characters that shouldn't exist on test accounts?

Of course, excluding the possibility that Asuna Yuuki herself possesses superpowers, the entire Tenkuji Yuuna Human Uselessness Sub-Organization could easily figure it out—even the deleted crystal ring has resurfaced, so the blame must fall on the system, and they would never consider anything other than this damn system.

Next, it's about Kasumigaoka-senpai.

The retreat in the stairwell, the flyers left on the path, and the appearance in the Virtual Game Research Club, a club that a cool, aloof third-year goddess would not usually set foot in...

She not only directly identified Yuuki Asuna, but also, after asking if there was any danger in the power outage, the entire building experienced a power outage shortly after she left the office.

It's practically like saying, "Alibis are nothing! I committed the crime! I was the one who wanted to unplug Yuu Tenkuji's internet!"

Perhaps she didn't care about being discovered, or perhaps... she wanted to use this extreme method to remind herself to go find her?

Tenkuji Yu lightly scratched his brow, pondered for a while, and then made a preliminary decision in his heart.

'I'll go to Kasumigaoka Utaha's classroom later and ask her directly what she wants!'

As for Yukino's side, the investigation still needs to continue. If it really was Kasumigaoka Utaha who cut the power to the entire club building, causing her and Yuuki Asuna to be forcibly logged out...

Well, it only lasted ten seconds, and there was no damage or injury; not to mention herself, the school couldn't do anything to her either.

For serious pranks, the most severe punishment would be a temporary suspension from school... As far as he knew, Kasumigaoka Utaha had already been admitted to the Department of Literature at Waseda University, so whether she was suspended or not was irrelevant, not to mention that the school would definitely not have the heart to deal with such an outstanding student.

Kasumigaoka Utaha is not afraid of anyone finding evidence against her.

"So, did you plan everything before committing the crime...? It seems this stalker is much smarter than before."

As his fingers left his relaxed brow, Tenkuji Yu narrowed his eyes—since the other party had gone to such lengths, he wanted to see what this stalker senior was trying to find.

"Stalker?" Upon hearing his muttered words, Yukino's gaze sharpened instantly. "What's going on?"

"To put it simply..." Before he could finish speaking, a sound of someone getting up came from behind the curtain.

Tenkuji Yuu turned his head, talking about how he was followed by an old woman in black stockings at the train station, while watching Yuuki Asuna walk out of the arena area, clutching her forehead.

She looked around somewhat bewilderedly, but quickly fixed her gaze on Yuu Tenkuji. As if she had found her anchor, she showed a clearly relieved expression.

In that instant, Tenkuji Yu could feel the chilling aura emanating from the girl beside him.

...I hadn't realized before that Yukino was such an easily jealous girl?

Seemingly oblivious to Yukino Yukinoshita's expression, Asuna Yuuki quickly stepped forward and asked, "Tenkuji-kun, what happened... was the power cut off? Why were we suddenly kicked offline?"

"The club building experienced a power outage for ten seconds."

After briefly explaining the reason, Tenkuji Yu looked at her strangely.

Yuuki Asuna felt uncomfortable under that gaze and couldn't help but take a half step back, her face slightly flushed, and her smile was a little awkward.

"Tenkuji-kun, what's wrong? If you have something to say, you don't have to worry about it, it's okay..."

Yukino Yukinoshita also looked puzzled.

This time, Tenkuji Yu felt very uncomfortable being stared at, but he was open and honest and had no ulterior motives, so he replied naturally, "There are many things I want to ask you."

"But this isn't the place to talk. If it's convenient, could you come with us?"

He gave his girlfriend a look, indicating that he just had something he wanted to know and didn't intend to cheat on her in front of her.

Yukino Yukinoshita immediately understood. She first responded with a haughty, cat-like disdain, confirming she wasn't the type to be jealous. Then, her expression softened, and she gave Yuuki Asuna a slight, dignified nod.

"Yuki-kun, do you have anything else to do?"

Asuna Yuuki hesitated for a moment: "N-no, if going to the school festival doesn't count as a problem..."

Yukino Yukinoshita smiled.

"Could you travel with us for a while? Don't be nervous, we just want to show you some hospitality. After all, it's rare for Yuuki-kun to come all this way, and as students of Soubu High School, we can't be rude to our guests."

"This one……"

Asuna Yuuki hesitated for a moment, looking back and forth between the two of them, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

But in the end, she said with a wry smile, "Sorry, I feel a little dizzy right now. Can I go and rest for a bit?"

This is not a lie.

Since taking off the helmet and returning to the real world.

Not only did Yuuki Asuna lose all memory of seeing the offline warning message, her head also felt dizzy from overworking, as if she had been reading all day and found it difficult to concentrate, and she was also feeling drowsy.

She couldn't figure out why this was happening; she just wanted to find a place to rest and clear her tired mind for a while.

"Is that so... Then let us take you to the infirmary." Yukino hesitated for a moment, then quickly replied, "The infirmary nurse is a woman, and she'll be on duty there all day, so you can rest without worry."

"Thank you."

Asuna Yuuki nodded slightly, glancing at Yuu Tenkuji seemingly casually.

Although she felt she had forgotten many things, there was one thing she remembered firmly.

'Tenkuji-kun, as expected, we were once husband and wife in the game, and we were together for a long time...'

In reality, is he also my... boyfriend?

—And these questions can only be asked when the two of them are alone.

……

The student association building, basement level, electrical distribution room.

I cut off the main power supply as instructed on the wall, and then restarted it after ten seconds.

To be on the safe side, she even used a handkerchief to avoid leaving her fingerprints anywhere.

After finishing these tasks, Kasumigaoka Utaha clapped her hands, leisurely closed the door to the power distribution room, and returned to the sunlit first floor.

She stretched, feeling a strange sense of relief, as if she had escaped death, and couldn't help but smile broadly.

Naturally, the surprised and puzzled crowd did not notice her coming up from downstairs, let alone suspect that the power outage was related to her.

Kasumigaoka Utaha continued walking forward, not returning to the Virtual Research Club office to observe their reactions, but leaving the club building directly.

Before long, she felt the stares of passersby coming from the opposite direction.

Kasumigaoka Utaha immediately realized that the state she had been in, which resembled wearing the futuristic gadget "Stone Hat," had disappeared from her body.

Since it's a one-time event, it's only natural that it would be taken back once the mission is completed.

"I wish I could get a permanent one..."

With a regretful sigh, Kasumigaoka Utaha quickly shifted her focus to the notebook in her hands.

Turning to the inside pages, the words "Rewriting failed, your future will fall into the abyss" have disappeared, replaced by new content.

"Fate has turned, and a new story begins with you."

"Compilers, the future remains fraught with peril. You must not be careless. A single misstep could lead to utter ruin for all of us."

"...But from this moment on, it seems that the shadow of a perfect ending can already be glimpsed."

"The first section has come to a successful close, but the second section has not yet begun."

Please wait patiently for the right opportunity.

This is the main text, with a line of smaller print attached below.

"Congratulations to the editor for completing the task. Reward: Slight improvement in writing skills."

"Tip: Please try to avoid meeting with Yuu Tenkuji before the start of the second section."

Kasumigaoka Utaha read the text slowly from top to bottom, and when she finished reading the last line of the main text, she couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth into a smile.