I DO NOT OWN SWORD ART ONLINE!

KIRITO'S POV

I woke up to the bright light passing through my bedroom window, I didn't get much sleep last night due to final preparations for the start of summer. I had to make all my assignments ahead so that when the school year ends, I don't have to worry about late submissions so that I'd be able to enjoy the summer heat. Asuna and I agreed that we do it now than later, I even had help from her and Yui to make things easier and faster. Life has been treating us well, it's been almost 5 months since the SAO and ALO incident and now we're finally going to make up for the lost time we had with our education, family and friends but what makes this time even greater is that I have someone close to me, very close to my heart to spend it with. I sometimes think as to what Asuna said back in SAO that she feels somewhat happy that SAO happened. We met there and even if the time we had there was short, we knew that what we were feeling was and is not going to fade, in my heart I know that's true.

I got up and stretched as far as I could to shake the remaining drowsiness from last night's all-nighter then I remembered.

"What time is it?" I muttered. I got up to check my phone on my headboard to check the time. It read,

"9:15 AM"

"I have a date with Asuna today!" I ran outside my room, got into the shower and dressed as fast as I could. I went downstairs to catch a quick breakfast only to be greeted by my teasing mother, Midori.

"Good morning Kazuto! In a hurry eh?" Mom said as she chuckled at my sudden urge to get ready in a hurry.

"Um…yeah! I have a date with Asuna today." I said blushing.

"You two on a date the moment school ends?" Mom said as she gave me a knowing smirk.

"It's…it's not like that at all. We're just going to the mall or maybe watch a movie." I quickly replied. Making sure she doesn't say anything more embarrassing to make me my face redder.

"No need to be defensive Kazuto." Mom said as she laughed at my evident tomato shaded face. "Take care and be careful okay?" she added.

"I will! Thanks mom! Be back home not later than 10." I said as I opened the door ready to meet my girlfriend and spend some quality time with her.

ASUNA'S POV

I got up so early to get ready, Kiri…Kazuto and I will have a date today and we don't have to worry about assignments or classes because thank goodness it's finally summer. We weren't able to spend a lot of time due to exams and other programs the school had us partake in so that they'd be able to monitor us and how we engage with everyone else due the SAO incident, the school sometimes treats us like mental hospital patients but we don't mind because we know they're just making sure we get the rehabilitation and the education we need at the same time. I was having a hard time on what to wear. I wanted to surprise him by wearing a sundress but I know he'll be using his motorbike today so I ended up choosing a pants and blouse kind of attire.

As I searched for a blouse, I heard my phone beep. I reached for it and unlocked the code only Kirito and I know. He would sometimes borrow my phone making up excuses like, "I want to check updates or games." But I know he just borrows it to check my messages or my social media apps due to him forgetting to "clear apps" on my phone the other time he borrowed it. Not that he doesn't trust me, he just gets really irritated, not jealous because he says that he trusts me but irritated because I don't tell the boys who reach out to me that I'm taken. I told him that it's better to ignore the messages than to give them hope, even if it's false hope. I smiled at the thought that he gets protective of me a lot. We've been through so much especially the Sugou incident. Kirito won't stop blaming himself for what Sugou did to me but as time passed he slowly started accepting the fact the nothing can change what has happened and that what he can do now is enjoy the time we have and be grateful that we have our lives back in the real world. I smiled at the text and can't help but follow a giggle.

"I'm on my way. I'm using the bike so make sure to wear pants! Love you!" I chuckled and typed a quick reply. I know he won't be able to read it but I just can't help but roll my eyes at him.

"Yes, I'm wearing pants but I really wanted to surprise you with a sundress but oh well. Love you more! See ya!" I hit send and waited for my hero to arrive.

AUTHOR'S POV

Kirito arrived at the Yuuki Residence and hid as far as he can as possible, trying to avoid glances from Asuna's mother, Kyouko. Asuna's mother never really liked the idea of Asuna dating Kazuto. In fact, she wished Sugou to marry her but we all know how that went. She would make Asuna go on dates with suitors she doesn't approve of, why would she? She has Kazuto in her heart and Kazuto only. She would fight and fight until he mother gives up. Kirito pulls out his phone and sees Asuna's reply to him. He can't help but chuckle at his cute girlfriend. He maybe younger than her but she's a kid at heart. Always happy and making him happy, making him want to protect her from anyone trying to take her away from him. He smiled again and replied.

"I'm outside your house. Make sure to tell your mom and dad that you're going out okay? I don't want to drop you off with them waiting to kick me to the curb! Hehe!" he hit send and waited for her to come out.

Asuna came out smiling so wide that her mouth started to feel bad. She went up behind him and hugged him from behind which only made Kirito jump from the sudden touch. Their hands touched and their bodies' envelope each other as they stayed like that for a while. They had to get going eventually as Asuna sighed, she said.

"You don't have to treat me like a child you know, I'm Lightning Flash Asuna-sama! Vice Commander of the Knights of the Blood Oath!" she puffed at him making him chuckle at her cuteness.

"Out here you're not lady." He replied with a grin.

"Neh Kirito-kun! You don't have to be so mean. I'm wearing pants and I said bye to my parents and I also have extra money. You don't have to baby me." She said again as she let him go to grab the helmet at the back of the motorbike.

"I can do what I want to do babe. Especially when it comes to your safety, I'll do anything." He replied as he grabbed her hands and put them on his own. Asuna looked him straight in the eyes, not saying anything. They just looked at each other already knowing what the other will say and just understand. Kirito grabs her by the waist and nuzzles his head on her shoulder. Relieving himself of the anxiety by her sweet vanilla scent. She was his rock, his strength and his reason to live. Losing her again will kill him.

"Kirito-kun, I love you more than anyone, I love you and Yui. You won't lose us. That I promise you." Asuna hugged him as tight as she could, not wanting to let go. He lifted his head from her shoulder and placed his lips on her soft pink lips. The kiss was soft yet it conveyed a message only they can understand. A message that need not explaining but rather a message that can only be understood by the right recipient. They parted and touched foreheads.

"We really need to get going!" Asuna chuckled

"Yeah, what a show we put out here!" Kirito replied as he handed her the helmet as she got up to ride at the back. She held onto him snuggly.

"You ready there?" Kirito asked.

"Always!" Asuna replied as he started the engine and they went off to start their day.