"I'll arrange for you to transfer schools in the near future."

The flickering candle flame, the lustrous red wine glass, the crisp sound of knives and forks, and the heavy steak drizzled with a rich sauce were all mercilessly covered by the words of the woman in the burgundy professional dress in front of her.

"W-What?" Asukano stopped abruptly at the silver knife of the steak, and the knife and fork against the edge of the steak trembled slightly, and she slowly looked up at her mother opposite, her eyes shining in disbelief.

Kyoko gently put down the knife and fork, then twisted the snow-white napkin and elegantly wiped the corner of her lower lip, after putting down the napkin, she looked at Asukina, and said solemnly in an irrefutable tone: "That's not where you should be." ”

Tomorrow's eyes trembled, and her voice was slightly excited: "Haven't you seen my results?" ”

She didn't want to leave that place, so she picked up the only weapon she could prove and fought back, but...

"Even if you don't fall behind, that's not where you should be." It's still the same unmistakable tone.

"Why?" Asukina pinched the fingertips of the knife and fork too hard, squeezing out the blood and becoming slightly pale.

"That kind of place, whatever the reason for it, whatever the slogan, is at best a place like a shelter." Kyoko said indifferently.

"Shelter...," Asuna muttered weakly.

Kyoko continued: "Asukana, you have the ability, in order to elicit those abilities, you can't stay in that kind of place, you have been behind others for more than a year, aren't you in a hurry at all?" ”

Asukina looked at Kyoko, silent, and the dim candle flame hid the confusion in her eyes very well.

Looking at the silent Asuina, Kyoko said calmly, "I don't want you to face a bleak life in the future. ”

Why... Do I have to go your way?

Thinking about her classmates at school, Asuna slowly stood up, lowered her head to look at her hands pressed on the edge of the table, and whispered, "Let me think about it." ”

"The deadline is next week." Kyoko nodded slowly.

Assuna silently pushed away the chair, walked to the door, pulled the door hard, and walked in the direction of the room without looking back.

She wants to return to that world, and it seems that only in that world can she feel her own existence.

…………

Smack...

From time to time, there was a slight explosion of the firewood burning in the fireplace, and the light of the fire fell on the body with temperature, dispelling the cold.

"Yo."

When Asuna opened her eyes, she heard a familiar voice, and when she turned her head, there was a handsome man with a slightly pale face sitting on the sofa in front of the fireplace, and the man was showing a kind smile to her at this time.

"Soar into the sky." Looking at the man, Assuna showed a slightly reluctant smile, and immediately glanced at the living room, puzzled: "What about the others?" ”

Shoku lay lazily on the couch, covered with a thick green blanket and wrapped around his head with a green plush hat that he was a little uncomfortable with, and God knows how Argo could be so fond of green.

Hearing Asukina's question, he moved his body slightly, adjusted to a more comfortable position, and said lazily: "I heard that rare S-grade ingredients appeared in the Snow White Forest on the 24th floor, and Kirito and them were all sent by Argora to find S-grade ingredients, of course, it was unpaid coolies. ”

Tomorrow Nai smiled softly when she heard this, a smile spread on her face, and then she slowly sat down next to Xiangkong.

Xiang Kong flicked a red mug, and with his index finger, the bottom of the cup was like a spring gushing out, gushing out fragrant tea.

"Thank you."

Asukina picked up the mug with both hands, and the warm temperature spread through the cup to the palm of her hand.

"Why didn't you go along?"

"Didn't I tell you? I'm cold, I'm cold. Xiangkong narrowed his eyes slightly, and his tone was wandering, as if he was about to fall asleep.

Tomorrow Nai was stunned, looked at the snowflakes falling outside the window, and said softly: "I didn't say it." ”

"What?" Xiangkong didn't hear clearly.

"Nothing." Asuna shook her head slightly, her eyes looked at the steaming tea, and she didn't move.

Xiangkong tilted his head slightly to look at Asuna's side face, his eyelids slowly opened, and he said firmly: "Asuna, you have something on your mind." ”

The words of affirmation shook the tea in Asukana's cup into a circle of ripples.

"You can see it." Amena smiled bitterly.

Xiangkong silently looked at Asukina, as if he felt the temperature drop a little more, and subconsciously glanced at the fireplace where the firewood was burning, and after confirming that the firewood was still burning strongly, he contracted his body and almost rolled his whole body into the thick green blanket.

"You're... Glitter. After a moment of silence, Xiangkong didn't ask about Tomorrow's thoughts, and said lazily.

Tomorrow Nai was stunned, and a slightly far-fetched arc appeared at the corner of her mouth.

"Kirito, you definitely did it on purpose!" At this time, a rough voice came from outside the house, showing dissatisfaction.

"It was definitely an accident!"

"Brother, you're too bad."

"Little brother Kirito, when did you become so insidious?"

"It was really an accident, trust me!" Kirito smiled wryly.

"Haha..."

With a hearty laugh, the wooden door was pushed open by a tall man.

Assuna looked up at the door, and the far-fetched touch at the corner of her mouth disappeared in an instant.

"You're back."