Time is getting closer and closer, and the start time of the BoB competition is coming bit by bit.
And just when Luo Zhen comforted Asuna and others, in a cafe in Tokyo, Shino was also holding a cup of coffee and looking at the passers-by outside the window, unknowingly seeing something... .
"Asada-san... Asada-san... Asada-san...!"
I don't know how long it took before such a voice came to Shino's ears.
"ah!"
Shino finally came back to his senses and looked at the opposite side of him.
There, Kyouji sat with a helpless expression.
"What are you thinking about? Asada-san?"
Kyouji looked at Shino with worry in his eyes.
"I...I'm not thinking about anything!"
Shino smiled reluctantly at Kyouji and denied it like this, but it only made the worry in Kyouji's eyes even stronger.
"Ever since I asked you out, you have been in a daze like this several times along the way. It was the same just now. Suddenly you were looking at the scenery outside the window in a trance. It's not like you at all." Kyouji was very hesitant. Looking at Shino, he finally said: "Did something happen? If you need my help, please just tell me. It's okay."
Kyouji showed the same closeness and tenderness to Shino as always.
This made Shino secretly blame herself in her heart for being so abnormal and making Kyouji worried.
In fact, Shino also knew that something was wrong with her current state. She was not at all like her usual self, so straightforward and inhumane.
But Shino just couldn't control it.
In my mind, yesterday's conversation resurfaced again.
"If I don't kill him, it will be my turn to be killed, and even the people around me will be killed."
The young man made such a declaration directly to himself.
"So, I have to kill, no matter what, I have to kill. Even if it happens again, I will still choose this way."
These words set off huge waves in Shino's heart, and he could never calm down.
Because, these words resonated in Shino's heart.
That's what Shino thought.
(I was not like this at the beginning...)
The result is who she is now, a girl who must constantly fight to overcome her biggest weakness.
However, Shino and Luo Zhen are the same.
Even if she knew it would be like this, if Sinon was asked to choose again, she would still choose that way.
the reason is simple.
(If not, it will be my turn to be killed, or even the turn of those around me to be killed...)
So, besides having to kill like Luo Zhen, no matter what, does Shino have another option
No.
Therefore, Shino did not regret making that choice at all.
It's just that there's one thing, really only one thing...
(It would be nice if someone could understand...)
Shino couldn't help but think about it several times.
Although, over the years, many people have said to Shino, "I understand, it must be very painful, it's really hard for you," but Shino listened and repeated it in her heart.
"Then have you ever killed anyone?"
If not, then why do you say you understand
This made it difficult for Shino to trust anyone, and she had always been so withdrawn.
And now...
(If it were him...)
If it was the boy who could say those words that resonated with him, he would surely understand, right
Understand how much pain I really am in.
It was precisely because of this thought that Shino couldn't help but catch up with the boy and talk to him.
No, even now, Shino wanted to talk to that boy again.
I want to ask him, since he has never regretted it and would still choose that way again, then, how on earth can he always maintain himself, unlike himself, who has such a shameful weakness
Is it because he is strong
It must be, right
It was because he was so strong that he was able to overcome such things and remain calm and calm even when he was killing like crazy in the land of death.
So, here comes the problem.
(How can I become as strong as him?)
Shino kept thinking about this problem, so much so that he lost his mind so many times today.
(What should...)
Shino was involuntarily lost in thought again, and she didn't realize that Kyouji, who was sitting opposite her, was looking at her with more and more worried eyes.
Under such worry, Kyouji's eyes still showed uncomfortable emotions.
no way.
"...Did Asada-san become so strange because of meeting that person?"
Kyouji asked in a low voice.
"Wha...what?"
Shino was slightly startled.
Looking at Shino like this, Kyouji's eyes became even more uncomfortable.
"I'm actually a little worried." Kyouji said with a disappointed tone: "Because Asada-san is different from usual, I feel as if you might run far away at any time."
Such words made Shino seem a little uncomfortable.
Because this is no longer a conversation that occurs between friends.
Shino felt that what Kyouji was looking for now was not himself as a friend, but a higher-level relationship.
This made Shino feel a little uncomfortable.
At the moment, Shino could only deal with it.
"Where can I go? Can't I still be here?"
Shino already felt a little pretentious.
But this made Kyouji look at her, and his eyes began to heat up.
"I just hope Asada-san is still the same person as before." Kyouji's voice seemed to be filled with heat as he said: "Still the same person who is always cold and aloof, not shaken by anything, and very strong."
"Yes...really?" Shino couldn't help but look away and said, "Maybe that's just you who made a mistake. I'm not strong at all."
At this point, Shino's tone also became lower.
"You also know, right?" Shino whispered: "I have a fatal weakness that cannot be called strong. As long as that weakness is still there, I will always be just the me living in the past."
It was rare for Shino to reveal his inner thoughts.
However, this resulted in Kyouji's reaction becoming more enthusiastic.
"But, Asada-san in the game is different." Kyouji said eagerly: "Asada-san in the game can freely control powerful weapons, and he is also such a powerful sniper. Obviously I am the one leading you to play. GGO game, but you have completely surpassed me without knowing it. Even when I persuaded you to allocate your ability values to AGI (Agility), Asada-san did not fully listen to my advice as an experienced player. On the contrary, based on my actual situation, I had the foresight to improve my STR (strength)."
Such Sinon is already one of the strongest players in GGO.
At least, among snipers, there is no player stronger than Sinon.
"I think that's what Asada-san is really like."
Kyouji's voice and gaze became more and more intense.
"That cold sniper is the real Asada-san, I have always believed this."
Hearing this, Shino slowly lowered his eyes.