The following Monday was supposed to be the hardest day of Hana’s life. Usually, after an event like the festival, she would have stayed home, pretending to have a fever to avoid the inevitable stares.
But as she walked through the front gates, she wasn't alone.
Ren was waiting for her at the entrance, leaning against the brick wall. He wasn't surrounded by the team. He wasn't talking to Chloe. He was staring intently at his phone, his thumb flying across the screen.
"Are you... playing a mobile game?" Hana asked, stepping beside him.
Ren looked up, his face lighting up. "SAO: Integral Factor. I'm trying to farm materials for a new coat. Good morning, Hana."
As they walked down the main hallway, the atmosphere was different. The whispering was there, but it wasn't the sharp, biting laughter from before. It was more like a confused hum. People watched them—the basketball star and the quiet girl—walking side-by-side.
Chloe passed them near the lockers. She didn't say a word. She looked at their joined hands, her face pale, and walked faster. She had lost her power the moment Hana stopped being afraid of her.
"Target floor reached," Ren joked as they arrived at Hana’s classroom. He reached into his bag and pulled out a small, wrapped box. "I figured we survived the Festival 'Boss Fight.' You deserve the loot."
Hana opened it. Inside was a pair of blue hair clips, shaped exactly like the ones Shino Asada wore in the real-world scenes of SAO.
"Ren..."
"Now you don't have to hide behind your hair," he said softly.
The First Official Quest
Saturday arrived with a clear, bright sky. Ren had promised a "Special Quest," and Hana had spent three hours deciding what to wear. She eventually settled on a white sundress and a light blue cardigan, pinned her hair back with her new clips, and felt... visible. But for once, it didn't feel like a threat.
When Ren showed up at her door, he actually stumbled back a step. "Whoa. You... you really do look like her. But, uh, better."
"Flattery will get you nowhere, Point Guard," Hana teased, her voice regaining the confidence they usually only shared in the library. "Where are we going?"
"Tokyo Big Sight," Ren grinned. "The Winter Anime Expo. There's a limited-edition GGO signing event."
The convention was a sea of color, cosplay, and energy. For the first time, Hana didn't feel like a social outcast. Here, everyone was a "nerd." Here, wearing a Sinon-themed outfit wasn't "weird"—it was cool.
They spent the afternoon wandering through the stalls. They took photos with a group of Kirito and Asuna cosplayers, and Ren even bought a replica "Elucidator" foam sword that he carried over his shoulder like a trophy.
"Hana, look!" Ren pointed to a photo booth. "We have to. For the 'Memory Record.'"
They stepped into the small, cramped booth. The screen counted down.
3... 2... 1...
In the first photo, they both held up "V" signs, looking awkward but happy.
In the second, Ren held his foam sword over them like an arch.
In the third, the "slow-burn" finally reached its boiling point.
Hana felt Ren’s arm slide around her waist, pulling her close. She looked up at him, her glasses reflecting the bright lights of the booth. He wasn't looking at the camera. He was looking at her, his expression soft and full of the kind of "special" he had promised.
"Hana," he whispered, his forehead leaning against hers. "Thanks for coming out of the shadows for me."
"Thanks for being my spotter," she replied.
As the camera clicked for the final time, Ren leaned down and pressed a soft, hesitant kiss to her cheek.
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and then Add to home screen.