"While everyone else was worried about life and death, I was still thinking about next week's mock exam... Isn't that ridiculous? Because I didn't even know what I wanted to do. I... just didn't want to make my family sad."
"I didn't actually know whether I really wanted to die either—if I died, at least it would be my own choice. But when faced with death, I became afraid again. Strange, wasn't I?"
Before Asuna could finish, Kiriko had already grabbed her hand.
"—Not at all!" Kiriko nearly shouted. "No one truly wants to die! Asuna, there are still so many wonderful things in this world! Even in this death game, we can still go on adventures like heroes—"
Kiriko was more delicate than Asuna had imagined.
Or rather, Asuna had touched a chord in Kiriko's heart.
OOC no longer mattered.
This was all heartfelt sincerity.
"After we get out, Asuna, tell your mother what you really think."
Kiriko said.
"Huh?"
"If you're scared, call me along."
"Kiriko..."
Asuna had not expected Kiriko to say that, and her voice trembled slightly.
"If your mother gets really angry, we'll apologize to her together, Asuna."
"Mm... but what if Mother still doesn't agree?"
"Then apologize even harder. And if that still doesn't work—then run away!"
"Run away..."
That was right.
Run away.
—Come to think of it, hadn't she come to this world? Wasn't that the same as running away from her original world?
She had fled her original world.
"Mm, run away. So please, don't take life so lightly anymore. Because after you die... there's nothing left."
Though she had never seen it, Asuna was certain of one thing.
—Kiriko had experienced something like this before.
Kiriko had felt this kind of pain before.
Was it because of her Imouto?
"I'm