What up guys? This is my first ever Sinoto story. I guess it's the first for everything. This is probably one of my favorite pairings in Anime. Although Kirisuna is already a thing, I can't help but want Sinon/Shino to be with Kirito/Kazuto. Well, who cares about my opinion anyways. Enjoy and leave some reviews ;).

Oh yeah I forgot to say that the ALO Arc never happened (I wished it never did in the anime. It's probably one of the reasons why I ship Sinoto instead of Kirisuna). Plus the fact that Sinon's avatar in ALO is probably the cutest thing in the anime world. It's just so adorable.

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He was back. After a year, he had finally returned. The chestnut haired girl wiped her tears away and dashed towards the Kirigaya resident. Although Suguha told her to come tomorrow, she just had to see him today. After being apart for a year, she had longed for every bit of his existence. Anything from his black hair to the cocky/arrogant attitude of his.

It had been one year since he suddenly disappeared. All he had left behind for her was a note that said, "I'll be back." She had patiently waited for him, depressed out of her mind. After spending 2 years in SAO with him, each day without him in the real world seemed like an eternity.

After a half an hour she had finally reached his home. 'He's here.' The feeling of joy, something she hadn't felt in a while returned as she reached for the doorknob. Before she could open the door Kazuto came out running right past her. Suguha soon followed. "Onii-chan wait." Before she could go any further, she was stopped by Asuna. "What's going on?" Deep inside, she was pissed at Kazuto for ignoring her. But based on the facial expression that he showed before, she could conclude that something had happened.

"I don't know. Onii-chan hadn't told me anything about where he went for the past year. Then suddenly Kikuoka-san called, and he ran out of the house like a mad man." Immediately, Asuna grabbed Suguha's hand and ran towards the direction Kazuto went. "Then let's follow him and see where he's going."

Out of all the places that the girls thought, they didn't expect to see Kazuto arrive at a local hospital. 'What's he doing at the hospital.' The two girls saw the blacked haired boy enter the facility and asked for instructions at the front desk. After he left, the girls did the same. The nurse at the front desk told them that Kazuto was going to room 5E.

Upon arriving at the room, Suguha and Asuna were hesitant about opening it. Kazuto had always been keeping secrets from them, but this time, they know nothing about what had happened to him for the past year. They don't know if opening it was the best option, but Asuna couldn't wait anymore. She feels like she deserves, at least, some sort of explanation on what the hell is going on.

She slowly slid open the door, with Suguha close behind. They entered quietly without grabbing the attention of the people inside.

"It's not your fault." The voice didn't belong to Kazuto but was gentle and weak.

Suguha and Asuna were hiding in the corner realizing that the voice belonged to a girl. "Yes, it is." His voice started cracking. "If...if... I were more cautious, you wouldn't be here." His fist tightened as he pounded the wall. The girl raised her hand weakly and playfully punched him on his arm. "You know you can't always be the hero." In an instance, the anger and sadness withdrew from his heart. This girl always had this effect on him. No matter what had happened, she had her methods of cheering him up. "Whoever you are. Kazuto or Kirito, you're human. You're destined to make mistakes. No humans are perfect."

"But I can always try. Can't I?" The girl simply rolled her eyes. "Hmmph. Still cocky as ever. I knew I shouldn't have said those words. It only boosted your enormous ego." There was a silence between the two teenagers. "Nee Kazuto." He turned his head until their eyes met.

"I never got to thank you for what you've done for me. I have to admit that even though you're a complete muscle headed idiot, the past year had been fun. It's probably the best that I've ever experienced." The last part she constantly stammered. Soon specks of red could be found on her cheek. Kazuto simply smiled at her. "Anybody tell you that you're cute when you blush." He teased her and started petting her head.

"Hey cut that out." She tried to remove his arm, but her frail body refused to do what she commanded. Then he moved close to her ear and whispered, "Don't sound like we're not going to see each other anymore." He paused and grabbed her cold hands. "I will always be here for you. Didn't I promise to protect you? So expect to make more memories with me. Like it or not. I'll make sure that the years ahead will surpass the previous." He gave her one of his traditional grins only to deepen the blush on her face. She quickly retracted her hand away. "Idiot." Soon enough she began laughing, and Kazuto followed. "Shino….." Their moment was soon ruined when a nurse opened the door which surprised Suguha and Asuna.

Suguha landed on Asuna as they fell to the ground, a few feet away from Kazuto. "Asuna. Sugu. What are you guys doing here?" He began to get nervous as his face started heating up. 'Please tell me they didn't hear what I just said.'

"Onii-chan." Suguha sheepishly responded. While Suguha was trying to explain the situation to Kazuto, Asuna was glaring at the girl resting on the hospital bed. She was jealous. No, she was beyond jealous. She was at a loss for words. After a year without seeing him, he returns with another girl.

Before Suguha could finish speaking, Asuna stood a few inches away from his face. "Kirito-kun." It was one of those innocent, yet dangerous tones. "Care to explain." Kazuto carefully backed away. 'Yep, she definitely heard that conversation.' He remembered what Asuna did to him back when he flirted with another girl in SAO. He shuttered as that memory resurfaced. He looked for Shino for help but realized that she covered herself with her blanket. 'I guess I'm all alone for this one.'

Before anything could continue the nurse interrupted. "Ahem." The three of them looked at her. "Visiting hours are from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. At the moment, it's 10:05. So could you young fellows take your leave. The patient needs her rest." The nurse moved on to push them out one by one. Before Kazuto left he turned his head and said, "I'll visit tomorrow." The door closed.

Shino, who was still inside the room, uncovered herself. 'So that's the Asuna I've heard about. I guess now that we're back in the real world, I've have no chance with him.' She let out a sad smile and looked out the window.

As they walked out of the hospital, Kazuto let out a sigh as he knew that there is still one more girl he had to deal with. He looked at her, and slowly put one hand around her neck. It clearly startled her as she took a step backward. "There's nothing to worry about. Shino is just a friend…" He paused. 'Is she, though? Shino is more than that. She's an invaluable person in my life now. A year ago, I probably see her as an annoying person who loves to get on my nerves. But after spending all this time with her, she's more than that.'

"And…." Asuna looked at him suspiciously, waiting for him to continue. "Yeah, she's just a very close friend that I've had fun working with." Asuna didn't seem to buy it as she tilted her head, deeply in thought. She then wrapped her hands around his waist and started crying. "What's wrong?" Whenever a girl cries, Kazuto always starts panicking. He had no idea what the hell is going on in a girl's mind.

"Where had you been?! Do you know I've been worried sick about you!" She started pounding his chest. "You jerk!" He reacted by patting on her back, as she tried to calm down. "I'm back. I won't be going anywhere." When she did calm down, she slowly pulled herself away from him and smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow at school." She left the two siblings alone as she called for a cab. Before she left, she gave them one last wave.

'Ohhhhhh shit. School. Forgot about that." He face palmed, only to make Suguha chuckle.

-The Next Day-

Kazuto quietly walked down the stairs. He was almost free when he touched the doorknob, but a wooden sword smacked him on the back of his head. He nervously turned around, finding Suguha standing behind him. "And where do you think you're going." She started tapping her foot, as she sent a cold glare. "Don't make me smack you again. Talk." In an instance, the sword was pointing at his neck.

"Calm down Sugu. I'm just going to visit my friend." Suguha sighed with relief. "And here I thought you were going to disappear on us again." Kazuto cautiously grabbed the sword and pushed it aside. "Just who is she? Why are you so worried about her?" Although it was a whisper, Kazuto still heard it. He smiled and sprinted out the door before Suguha could scold at him anymore.

She watched closely as her brother left the house. This scene was nauseous as the same thing occurred one year ago. 'At least, he's not leaving us again.' She stretched and went to the kitchen only to realize something. "ONII-CHAN!" Suguha just noticed that Kazuto's skipping school.

Okee Dokee that's chapter one. What do you guys think? I'm kind of testing the waters for this story since I'm making progress in another Shino/Sinon X Kazuto/Kirito story. Shout out to KnightEstoc's Shared Strength. His story really moved me as it motivated me to create my own masterpiece. Check his story out. It's probably one of the best Sinon X Kazuto stories out there. Drop a review. Anything you guys write can improve me as a writer. If it's that bad, I'll happily rewrite it. XD