Want to Run? Did You Ask Me?

On a tree branch in the forest.

As Asuna's footsteps landed on the branches, the little birds nesting among the trees flapped their wings, as if trying to drive away this outsider.

Asuna had frightened the whole flock.

One nest was shaken loose by the swaying branch and accidentally fell.

Inside were two baby birds, flapping their wings and chirping frantically.

Of course, Asuna noticed. With a graceful turn, she flashed over and caught it, then placed it securely in a steadier fork in the branches. After settling it in place, she apologized.

"Sorry for disturbing you. I didn't mean to."

Then she leaped away from the branch.

The chirping birds instantly fell silent.

Tilting their heads, they found this human strange.

She had actually apologized to a flock of birds?

Asuna continued weaving through the forest, her pace quickening even further.

Usagisawa Misumi had already been left so far behind that she was nowhere in sight. Asuna had no time to care about her good girlfriend right now—the most important thing was finding Akasaka!

Usagisawa Misumi had been forgotten by her good girlfriend just like that.

Truly pitiful.

Sure enough, in front of a man, a good girlfriend was completely unimportant.

Usagisawa Misumi was feeling a little upset.

She felt like she had fallen out of favor...

Back then, Asuna had nearly chopped Kirito up for her...

But now, she had been abandoned without a second thought.

Usagisawa Misumi admitted that she was a little jealous...

Meanwhile, it was as though heaven itself was watching over Asuna, as she somehow miraculously headed straight toward Akasaka's location.

These two really were fated.

After passing through the dense forest, Asuna finally spotted Akasaka sitting on a rocky outcrop in the clearing ahead.

Akasaka had been waiting here for Heathcliff for three