Crossover PS 207 (Patreon)

Infinity Castle, the living room.

Minoru put down his NerveGear, Mahiru was already taking off her equipment beside him.

"How was it? Your first time playing the game."

Mahiru replied, "It was quite fun. Asuna is a good teacher."

Erii sat up from the sofa not far away and rubbed her eyes. "Minoru, are we going out for dinner tonight?"

"Yeah, Asuna's treating us."

Erii nodded. "Then after dinner, are we going to see brother?"

The living room fell silent for a moment.

Mahiru looked at Erii, and Kiss-Shot opened her eyes as well.

Minoru looked at Erii. "Have you made up your mind?"

"Mm-hmm. I want to tell him that I'm doing well. He doesn't need to come looking for me. But we can meet occasionally."

Erii paused, then added, "If he misses me."

Minoru smiled. "Alright. After dinner, I'll go with you."

Erii nodded, the corners of her lips curving into a smile.

Kiss-Shot leaned back on the sofa, her golden eyes sweeping over Erii. "Little girl, you're becoming quite the smooth talker."

Erii said seriously, "Speaking in the game doesn't hurt people, so I just kept talking and talking. Then I got used to it."

Kiss-Shot gave a light huff. "Then how come I don't see you talking this much in Infinity Castle?"

Erii tilted her head and said with a smile, "Usually, Kiss-Shot is here, so I don't need to say that much."

Kiss-Shot was choked up. "What do you mean?"

Erii said confidently. "Whatever I want, you know just by looking at me. You always help me tell Minoru so I don't need to say it."

Kiss-Shot opened her mouth, but couldn't say a single word.

Mahiru laughed out loud. "Erii, when did you learn that?"

Erii blinked. "I learned it from Kiss-Shot."

Kiss-Shot: "..."

Minoru suppressed a laugh and changed the subject. "What are we wearing for dinner tonight?"

Mahiru thought for a moment and said, "The restaurant Asuna booked is L'Osier. It seems like it'll be quite formal."

"So... evening wear?"

Minoru nodded. "Sure. We have some in Infinity Castle."

He snapped his fingers and three wardrobes appeared out of thin air in the living room.

Mahiru walked over, her fingers brushing across the rows of hangers. She finally stopped at a gray satin gown, with a bias-cut hem that fell from the waistline.

Mahiru turned sideways in front of the mirror, her flaxen hair draped over her shoulders. It wasn't flashy, but it made it hard for Minoru to look away.

"How is it?"

Minoru took a serious look. "It looks good."

"Just 'good'?"

"The gray matches your hai, it gives off a very ethereal feeling."

Mahiru smiled with satisfaction.

Erii stood before the hangers and looked for a long time. She finally chose a navy blue matte velvet knee-length dress. The skirt was a slight A-line, ending exactly two fingers above her knees.

"Minoru, is this okay?"

Minoru nodded. "Red and navy, you have good taste."

Erii smiled. "Then this is the one."

Kiss-Shot scanned the hangers and pulled out a black slip dress. This dress was so minimalist it almost had no design. The straps were thin, sitting right on her shoulder blades and revealing her entire collarbones and shoulder lines.

...

At 5:30 PM, outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of Infinity Castle, the simulated sunset was sinking.

Mahiru, Erii, and Kiss-Shot had already changed and were waiting in the living room.

Mahiru sat on the sofa, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the hem of her dress, her gaze drifting toward the hallway from time to time.

Erii stood in front of the mirror, checking her hem one last time.

Kiss-Shot leaned against the window in her black evening gown. She looked indifferent, but her golden pupils also glanced toward the hallway several times.

"Why hasn't he come out yet?" Mahiru muttered softly.

Kiss-Shot gave a light huff. "This man is so slow at changing clothes too."

Erii tilted her head. "What will Minoru wear?"

Mahiru thought for a moment and said, "Probably a suit. He should look very good in a suit."

"Good-looking?" Kiss-Shot raised an eyebrow. "Have you seen it?"

Come to think of it, Minoru usually wore either a shirt or a T-shirt in Infinity Castle. No one had really seen him in a suit before.

That time when he discussed matters with Saito Ichigo, Minoru had taken off his suit as soon as he returned to Infinity Castle.

"Um... I don't think so, but he'll definitely look good." Mahiru nodded, the tips of her ears turning slightly red.

Erii blinked. "Then I want to have a good look too."

Just then, footsteps sounded from the end of the hallway.

The three of them looked over at the same time.

Minoru wore a black suit. He wasn't wearing a tie, and the top button of his shirt was undone.

He glanced at the three of them, the corners of his lips turning up slightly. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

Minoru raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

"Let's go. Let's not keep Asuna waiting too long."

...

Tokyo, Ginza, L'Osier.

Asuna stood in front of the glass doors. She had changed three times before coming here. The first set was too formal, the second too casual, and the third was what she was wearing now.

A cream-colored knee-length dress paired with light-colored heels. Her hair was draped over her shoulders, adorned with a white feather hairpiece, and she wore a pair of small pearl earrings.

She looked at her reflection in the glass door.

Was it too deliberate? Would it seem too intentional?

The door was pushed open from the inside and a waiter bowed with a smile. "Miss, your private room is ready."

"Thank you, I'm waiting for someone."

Asuna stepped aside and kept brainwashing herself.

It's just dinner. Thanking them for taking her to fight the boss today and satisfying her curiosity while she's at it. Yes, that's all.

Just then, black luxury car pulled up at the curb.

Asuna looked over instinctively. The car door opened, and a black-haired man stepped out first. In a black suit with no tie, he looked like he had just stepped off a magazine cover.

Asuna's head buzzed.

In-game appearances were synchronized with reality. She knew Minoru should be very good-looking but she didn't expect that the real-life Minoru would be even more handsome than his in-game self.

That's not right.

Asuna shook her head.

She couldn't think like that, he had a girlfriend.

Then she saw Mahiru getting out of the car.

Minoru rested one hand on the upper edge of the car door while reaching the other inside, palm facing up. Mahiru placed her hand on his, and Minoru gently grasped it, helping her out of the car.

"Careful, your skirt is a bit long."

Mahiru glanced down at her skirt, and Minoru bent down accordingly, pulling the hem away from the edge of the car door, spreading it out, and smoothing it.

Mahiru took Minoru's arm. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Asuna stood at the restaurant entrance, watching the scene. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions.

They matched well.

Erii stepped out from the other side and looked around the streets curiously, then spotted Asuna and waved.

The last to get out was Kiss-Shot. She exuded an aura that warned strangers to keep their distance, just like in the game.

She glanced at the restaurant's sign and nodded. "Not bad."

Asuna took a deep breath.

Keep up normal social etiquette!

She walked over with a smile. "Good evening."

"Good evening," Minoru nodded in greeting.

Mahiru greeted her with a smile, "Asuna, you look so beautiful tonight."

Asuna was momentarily stunned. "T-thank you. You too."

Erii came over and looked up at her. "Asuna, your face is red."

"N-no! It's the sunset! It's the light from the sunset!"

Erii nodded. "Oh. Then the sunset is really pretty."

Asuna: "..."

Minoru suppressed a laugh and said, "Let's go inside."