/December 15th, 2025
When you'd logged into ALO for the first time, you'd picked a Spriggan because it was black. Because of your personal preference, but also because it was as far from white and gold as you could get. You'd been fine.
Now the sky is too blue, the grass too soft. Each gust of wind pulls on too-short hair, too-long ears. Head to your knees, hands to your ears, you still hear that horrible, familiar background music.
"Oi."
You can't be hearing that right.
"Kirito."
You press further into your knees. A cool shadow covers you and you cringe.
...Fingers card gently through your hair.
"I'm not angry, Kirito."
Not? But you lied to her. She should be angry at you. And pain always follows that.
You look up and all you see in her eyes is sadness. Why?
The arms that wrap around you are warm, and smell of cat hair.