-1668- Pure, innocent and gentle
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A heavy atmosphere hung between Rozen and Leafa, drawing frequent glances from passersby who seemed to sense something unusual.
Rozen and Leafa, however, were oblivious to their surroundings, locked in a silent exchange, neither acknowledging the world around them.
Rozen maintained his silence.
Leafa, suppressing her emotions, gazed directly at Rozen, awaiting his response.
The tense moment stretched on.
Until...
"I thought you would never ask," Rozen finally relaxed, offering a bitter smile.
In front of Suguha, Rozen had frequently mentioned Asuna, even bringing up Kirito multiple times.
It was inevitable that Suguha knew the name by now.
But until this point, she had never asked.
The reason was simple.
"From what I've gathered, this Asuna you talk about hasn't woken up yet, right?"
Leafa spoke softly.
"Yes," Rozen nodded. "She hasn't woken up. Even though SAO has been cleared, she, along with three hundred other players, remains trapped in sleep."
The reason for this remained elusive, even to experts.
However, judging by Rozen's expression, he seemed to know more than he let on.
And that was why he had come to this world—his goal was to rescue the three hundred players who had not yet awakened.
Or, more accurately, he was here for one person among those three hundred: Asuna.
So, who was she?
Or, more specifically, what was she to Rozen?
Leafa wasn't naive. She had her suspicions.
That suspicion was...
"A lover…" Leafa asked cautiously, "Is she your lover, nii-san?"
It was the only explanation that made sense for Rozen's deep concern.
Leafa had thought this for some time, though it pierced her heart to consider it.
The reason she hadn't asked earlier was partly out of respect, not wanting to tread on Rozen's sensitive memories, and partly due to her fear of hearing him confirm her suspicions.
After all, ever since she was a child, Leafa had admired Rozen deeply.
So, even though she knew of Asuna, Leafa had never asked.
It wasn't that she didn't want to—it was that she couldn't bring herself to.
She feared hearing the answer she dreaded most.
Only now did Leafa summon the courage to voice her question.
Thankfully...
"Strictly speaking, Asuna isn't really my lover." Rozen paused, exhaled deeply, and answered, "I never confessed to her, nor did she to me. We never shared our feelings with each other, and we never officially became a couple. But we might as well have been."
Saying this, Rozen recalled the days spent with Asuna on the 22nd floor of Aincrad.
Those peaceful days of living with her.
Although they had never declared their feelings, they had indeed cohabited, shared serene moments together, and even, thanks to Yui, slept side by side on occasion. Their relationship was nearly indistinguishable from that of lovers.
And so, Rozen had said they were "not together, yet closer than most couples."
Leafa understood Rozen's sentiment.
"So… do you love her?"
Leafa asked, her expression even more serious than before.
Rozen's bitter smile deepened.
Love her?
Of course, he did, didn't he?
Rozen had never felt anything but warmth for Asuna—how could he possibly dislike her?
If Mash was the first one to hold an unparalleled place in his heart, Asuna was the second, even ranking above Edelweiss.
In fact, Rozen understood that his feelings for Asuna could likely rival those he held for Edelweiss.
The difference was that Rozen's affection for Edelweiss had blossomed over years of companionship, while his feelings for Asuna felt like a first love he could never forget.
Back when Rozen first left Chaldea, he spent several years in the world of automaton, and then he arrived in this world, where he met Asuna.
During those years in the world of automaton, Rozen hadn't developed romantic feelings for anyone—not even Hinowa, who was still young at the time and evoked only Rozen's affection and compassion, let alone Yaya, with whom he had clashed initially.
As for Mash, she was more like Rozen's other half, a constant companion inseparable from him.
They shared the same sanctuary.
They shared the same mysterious origins.
They shared the same fate.
So, the bond between Rozen and Mash couldn't be simply described as "love" or "romance." Whether it was love, friendship, or family, none of these terms fully captured the depth of their relationship.
In short, Rozen and Mash's connection went beyond any single definition, surpassing mere emotional bonds.
In that sense, Asuna was indeed Rozen's unforgettable first love.
Though they had never shared a grand, passionate relationship, they had carved a place for each other in their hearts.
Perhaps they had never experienced particularly dramatic moments, but they had slowly developed a quiet, steady affection through their everyday interactions.
It was like a first love at school, where just seeing someone from a few desks away, watching them during class, could spark those innocent, gentle feelings that lingered and never faded.
That was Rozen's feeling for Asuna—a sentiment that, at some point, quietly grew into what it was.
And perhaps Asuna felt the same way, at some unknown moment starting to see Rozen differently.
That was the essence of a first love.
With that understanding, Rozen could only give one answer to Leafa's question.
"I love her."
Those simple words conveyed everything.
"I see…"
Leafa lowered her head, rendered speechless.
"Sugu…"
Rozen called her by that familiar name.
Since they were young, Rozen had always called Suguha that—even Kirito used the same name.
The endearing nickname instilled a sense of strength in Leafa.
It brought her a small comfort, filling the void in her heart.
"Is it for Asuna that you're trying to reach the top of the World Tree?"
Leafa looked at Rozen with determination.
"Yes."
Rozen nodded, not concealing anything.
But then…
"Are you sure you can complete such an impossible task on your own, nii-san?"
Leafa's question seemed almost like a final confirmation.
Rozen smiled and responded with a simple statement.
"This isn't the first time I've taken on an impossible challenge."
And that was the truth.