Hello, everyone. This is your author in-progress, ArtLotus. And I am here to update SAO II: Phantom's Rosario. I understand that it has been a long period of time that I have been absent but unfortunately I have an exam I have to study for in these past weeks following April.
Although, this was short but I hope that you will find this chapter to your liking. Give lots of your love to this story, alright? This has been going on for quite a time and I wanted to continue. I appreciate that you read it to your hearts content.
I will see you all in the next chapter, Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!
Chapter 7: First Qualifying Round
Bullet of Bullets 3
Qualifier Entry
A pair of blue eyes stared at the registration form in front of her and she trailed down one of the provided answers that she had filled in the form; her real name. Looking at the other empty questions, a small frown was etched on her face as she tried deciding whether to fill her real home address, phone number, e-mail and other sorts of her personal information much to her discomfort.
The pair of blue eyes looks up towards the blue box panel above the registration form.
Attention:
Please input your real name and address. You may leave this blank or enter this information, but you will be ineligible for top-ranking prizes.
After a while, Sephiria decided to tap the enter button and her registration form disappeared, having been accepted and registered inside the tournament. Taking a deep breath, Sephiria steps back from the registration booth and looks at Kirito and Sinon that were filling out their registration forms. Deciding to wait for them, Sephiria looks around at the giant dome hall, noticing that players were beginning to fill in and register themselves at the last minute.
As she scan the hall, she was unaware of the sound of geta shoes approaching her. Just as she looks forward, she was immediately rewarded with a wide smile that was beaming towards her, surprising her before she composed herself seeing as it is her friend, Saya.
"Saya?" Sephiria asked in slight surprise.
"Yup! Why do you look so surprised, Sephiria? The BoB tournament is about to start, you know? I can't simply miss the chance to participate now would I?" Saya explained smiling.
"But how did you get here-"
"So fast?" Saya finishes her sentence as Sephiria smiled and nods. "I got a ride from Kyoko. She knows somebody that could give us a ride after you started chasing Mr. Black Cat."
"I didn't mean to left you. I apologise." Sephiria frowned as Saya smile in reassurance.
"I know. I won't ask what's going on though. To me, it looks personal to you and I can respect that." She stated as Sephiria smiled and nods.
"Thank you for understanding, Saya. That means a lot to me."
"Don't worry. It's between us girls, right?" Saya grins and Sephiria smiled softly. "Anyway, did you catch Mr. Black Cat?"
At her question, Sephiria avoided her gaze by staring down at the floor. "Yes. But I didn't get any answers from him."
Saya stare at her for a moment, wondering if the blonde was alright. Even though she wanted to know deep down, and would try to lend a helping hand to her friend but at the same time, she knows that it isn't her decision if she wanted to know or not. It is entirely up to the blonde if she wanted to let out the words to her and for that, she would wait it out until she did. In the two days that she spent with her, she knows little about her except for her name. But she knows a few facts about her and she couldn't be anymore happier that she met someone like her; a friendly but kind hearted person. And to see her upset right now, worried her.
Meanwhile, Sephiria stared at the floor while contemplating the words spoken by the brunette minutes earlier. Even recalling the conversation they've had during the chase. But realising that she's been staring into space, she was greeted by a worried Saya. At first, she doesn't know what to say before the words came out of her mouth naturally. "Sorry about that." Sephiria casted a reassuring smile but Saya still kept staring at her worriedly. Before long, the frown was replace by a smile albeit a small one.
"Not to worry, Sephiria. I understand." Saya stated as Sephiria stare at her before nodding at her words.
"Saya?" A voice called out as both women looked behind them to see Sinon and Kirito walking up towards them, supposedly finished with their registrations.
"Hello. How have you been?" Saya asked smiling as Sinon smiled.
"Good. Even though we had a few minutes to register but we registered just in time. All thanks to Kirito." Sinon looked at Kirito who scratches her cheek.
"It-It's...Um, you're welcome." Just as he finishes, Kirito noticed the look sent by Sephiria and he gulped down in slight fear. Just then, a voice spoke through a speaker above them.
"Anyway, what qualifier block did you get?" Sinon asked Saya.
"Block D. But I kind of forgot the number." Saya apologises sheepishly as Sinon smiled at her before turning to the blonde next to her.
"What about you, Sephiria?"
"Block E." Nodding at the blonde, she turns to Kirito next.
"Block F. F-37."
"Oh, so we're in the same qualifier block. I'm in Block F, too. Maybe because we signed up at the same time." Sinon explained. "I'm 12. Which means..." She looks upwards in deep thought before looking at him. "Good. Even if I run into you, it'll be in the finals." She smiled as Kirito tilt his head to the side in slight confusion.
"What's good?"
"As long as you make it to the final battle of the qualifiers, you can participate in the battle royale in the main tournament." Sinon explained to him while the other two listened in on her explanation. Lifting up her finger, Sinon continued. "So it's possible we could both get to the main tournament."
"Oh." Kirito looked in realisation as Sinon let down her finger to her side.
"But if I do see you in the finals," She said as she narrows her eyes at him. "even if it's a qualifier...I won't go easy on you." She said looking pointedly at Kirito who looked in surprise before smiling back.
"I understand. Of course. If that happens, let's both fight as hard as we can." Kirito replied.
"Don't forget about us now." Saya said breaking the conversation between the two as both of them looked at her and Sephiria.
"Yes, if we ever meet in the battle royale...I won't go easy on you two, including you Saya." Sephiria turns to her last with a challenged smile.
"I'll definitely give it my all, and I'll show you all what I can do." Saya grins as both Sinon and Kirito smiled at the two while Sephiria kept smiling at her.
Entry for the Bullet of Bullets 3
Qualifying Tournament
Is now closed
"You know, for a foreign name, the Japanese on this is pretty good..." Kirito said as he and the three girls started walking towards the start of the tournament; the place where registered players gathered before the tournament. "The official site was only in English."
"The company that operates it, Zaskar, is American, but Japanese staff is assigned to the server for Japan." Sinon explained to the three before continuing. "But you know, GGO is in kind of a legal gray zone, in both Japan and America."
"Is it because of the real money-conversion system?" Kirito asked as Sinon smiled knowingly.
"The official page has only minimal information. You can only manage your character, access the e-money accounts, you need for currency conversion, or do most anything game-related inside the game itself."
"Hm...It's well, amazing." Kirito commented as Sinon stopped walking causing the other three to follow in step.
"That's why it's almost entirely cut off from the real world. Because of that, it feels like the real me and the me that exists here are two different people." Sinon mutters under her muffler but it was heard by the three nonetheless. "But..." Suddenly, flashes of Black Cat surface in her mind and she was again reminded of the pair of yellow cat eyes that caused her phobia to act up. While she was thinking, her chest unconsciously tightens and Sinon shakes her head to rid of the flashes surfacing in her mind.
"Are you alright?" At the voice, Sinon looks at Sephiria's worried eyes along with Saya's. Besides them, Kirito also watches her with slight worry.
Smiling reassuringly, Sinon raises her hands in dismissal. "It's nothing, really. Sorry. Anyway, we need to get to the tournament-qualifier area. Are you three ready?" She asked ignoring the worried looks thrown at her.
Saya looked at Sephiria who looked at Sinon before watching the frown on her face replaced by a smile.
"We're ready." Sephiria assured as Sinon smiled at her, knowing that somehow the blonde understood her situation at the moment much to her appreciation.
Seeing the genuine smile on the blue haired's face, Saya couldn't help but smile also. "Ready as I'll ever be." She said to her as Sinon smiled at her before turning to Kirito, who nods with a small smile.
"I'm ready." With that, Sinon turns around and pointed her finger at one of the three metallic doors in front of them; specifically the center of the three.
"It's down there."
As the doors open to the qualifier-tournament area, the sounds of chatting could be heard all over the hall dome. After stepping out from the lift, Kirito freezes in his spot as he looks at the stares directing at him and the others while the lift closes. He looked at the weaponry in each of every player and he gulps down his saliva for the second time. He looks at the girls and he noticed that all of them weren't terrified by the sight of the armed players in front of them. Each of their expression were far from being terrified; Sephiria held a calm look to her face while Saya smiled causing him to wonder if she was used to the mass of attention thrown at her. He then turns to his blue haired tour guide, noticing that she narrowed her eyes with a disapproving frown.
After a moment of silence, he clutches his collar before pulling on it a few times. Kirito then looks at the players that were staring at them before noticing a change; their stares weren't directed at them but behind them. He also noticed the stares were different than before; they showed pure fear in their pupils.
Before he look over his shoulder to find out the cause of the stares, he was startled by the touch of a hand on his left shoulder from behind.
"Looks like we meet again." At the familiar voice, Sephiria's eyes widen while Kirito slowly turns to face Black Cat with a playful smile playing on his lips.
Turning around, Sephiria glared at Train that was standing behind Kirito with a hand clamped to his shoulder. "You." Sephiria exclaimed but before she could continue to speak any further, she was taken by surprise as the brunette walked past her without replying. "…Wait!" At the call, Train stopped in his track before glancing over his right shoulder. Immediately, Sephiria and the three others were silenced by the pair of cold eyes glancing at them piercingly.
"Oh. One simple advice; don't let your guard down." He advised with a slight cold look contrary to the playful demeanour earlier. With that, he turns around and every player that was staring at him flinched in fear before minding their own business. After a moment, Train walks away as the four looked at him before watching him disappear amidst the crowding players.
"Don't let your guard down?" Kirito asked under his breath before looking up at the direction where the brunette disappeared. "From who?"
"From him." Sinon answered with narrowed eyes and a frown.
"But why did he warn us about it?"
"I think he's talking about the players besides us." Saya made herself known as the others look at her. "It doesn't necessarily mean that he is the only one we should be aware of. We can't let our guard down based on their appearances only."
"That is true..." Kirito replied as he glances through his eyes at the various types of guns carried by some of the players in the hall; ones of which he never know how it functioned in battle. The thought of being eliminated crosses his mind and he cringed at the thought. "They might have an advantage in the tournament that we don't know yet." He looked at the other three.
"So you're gonna take his advice for it?" Sinon asked feeling slight betrayed.
"It wouldn't hurt to be cautious at least." Kirito reassured her. "I mean, he did attract their attention from us." He said gesturing to every armed player in the hall who minded their own business unlike earlier.
"So you're thinking that he is on our side now? You do remember that we fought him during our way here, right?" Sinon raised an eyebrow challengingly at the black haired who recalled the event before nodding to her words.
"But he didn't attack us per say during the chase on the highway, right?" Sephiria asked as she look at both Kirito and Sinon who looked back at her. "If my memory served me right, he was just toying with us. But he didn't do anything that did us any harm." She crossed her arms with a small frown as Sinon looks away in denial while Kirito put his hand at the back of his head.
"Then?" Sephiria looks at the blue haired player. "He's a good guy now?" She asked without looking at the blonde.
Sighing, Sephiria shakes her head. "I didn't say any of that. My judgement still remains clear about him. He is not one to be trifled with no matter what." Her eyes narrowed as the thought of Train's cold eyes entered her mind; the eyes that held pure hatred and held no mercy whatsoever. "If any indications of him is true enough, he isn't one to be 'good'." She clenched her fists as her face hardens.
Hearing what she said, Sinon looked back at her and her eyes widen at the sight of the blonde.
At the glimpse of Sephiria's reaction, Kirito allowed a frown to curve downwards. He'd never thought his friend would act like this before. Sure he saw how upset she was but the hatred within her eyes tells him otherwise. And the cause of this was the proclaimed Death Gun: known as Black Cat.
Sensing the awkward atmosphere around them, Saya sent a glance at Kirito who glances at her in return. Nodding to each other, Saya cleared her throat getting both Sephiria and Sinon's attentions. "We should prepare ourselves first. The tournament should start soon." She, Sephiria and Sinon along with Kirito looked up at the timer displayed above the blue piramid placed at the center of the dome.
BoB3 Preliminary
Remaining Time: 26 minutes
At the revelation, Sinon's eyes widen in realisation before she looks at Kirito. "We should change."
The black haired in question nodded without a second thought before the two of them walked away to change, leaving Saya and Sephiria. After they were gone, Saya turns to her partner and noticed something wrong about her. "Are you alright, Sephiria?"
Glancing up at the worried look sent toqards her, Sephiria could only chuckle lightly before her chuckle dies down and she answers. "...Maybe I'm thinking too much." A sad smile graces her features. "I don't know if I could do this..." She exclaimed as she hug herself.
Saya in turns stood closer and she puts a hand on her shoulder pad. "I still don't know what's going on but whatever you are doing; you can't overexert yourself. It will make you regret yourself later on. I know this because I experienced it before. I've realised that I can't help everyone on my own when I first became a sweeper. But still, helping someone one at a time counts." Saya explained as Sephiria looks at her and smiled lightly, understanding the meaning behind her comforting words.
Recalling the years isolated in SAO, she knows that she didn't want anyone to die because she felt that they didn't deserved it. The SAO players that were hard at work to be stronger just so they could get out of the game was all for naught. Including the determination and will that each of them carried to the floor to defeat another Floor Boss was just for naught. Those that were killed would never come back and those ones were either killed by the floor monsters or Floor Bosses. All of their belief would never be recognised but she knows that their sacrifices would be known throughout SAO in the tomb-
At the thought, Sephiria closed her eyes then takes a deep breath before exhaling it out. Reassuring herself in deep belief before feeling her mind was slightly clearer now than before, she opens her eyes and smiled up at Saya. "I understand now. Thank you, Saya." She thanked in appreciation as the esteemed sweeper smiled back.
"No problem. Anyway, are you ready for the tournament?" Saya asked. "Did you forget anything?"
Shaking her head, Sephiria answers. "No, I think I have all I need." She touched the handle of her Christ to which Saya noticed and give a thumbs up. "What about you? Are you going to enter the tournament in a yukata?" Sephiria frowned looking upon the pink floral yukata adorning Saya.
"Yeah. Don't underestimate me, Sephiria. I might not look much, but I can still pack a punch in this yukata." Saya put her hand on her waist. "Anyway, I like yukata's. They're beautiful." She smiled as Sephiria laugh lightly before nodding at her words.
"Yes, your interest on yukata's are highly noticeable." She stated before the blonde spotted a resting spot near them. "Do you want to sit to wait it out?" She asked as Saya turns to where she looked and nodded along.
"Yeah, although I like standing but walking on these geta shoes are harder than you think." Saya commented as Sephiria stifle a laugh before the two walked on towards the resting spot which consist of a crescent long seat with a circular table at the center.
Changing Room
After walking through the crowd of players without any difficulty which goes by being stared at from every player, both Kirito and Sinon enters the changing room, much to the former's relief.
But just as he entered the room, Kirito couldn't help the sudden thoughts that are negatively circulating his mind at the moment when he finally realise the severity of the situation he was in. Closing his eyes, he tried to calm his raging heart and tried to think of the the scenarios that would happen if; he told the truth sincerely or told the truth forwardly. But at the choices, he knew that at one point he would be the one who will suffer. Shivering at the thought, Kirito looked up at the blue haired player standing a few feet across from him.
"Kirito? Kirito?"
"...Huh? What?" Kirito shakes his head throwing the early thoughts out of his head and focuses on the girl calling on him. "What did you say?"
Putting a hand on her hip, Sinon quirked an eyebrow at him. "Are you alright?"
Smiling sheepishly, Kirito nods. "Yeah. I was just thinking about something for a moment. Sorry, I didn't hear you."
Seemingly convinced by the black haired, Sinon asked her question earlier. "Do you see the players earlier?"
Raising an eyebrow at her question, Kirito answered. "Yeah."
"Don't be bothered by it. Showing off your main weapon thirty minutes before the tournament? It's just asking to get countered." She assured as Kirito nods in understanding.
"Ah..."
"Anyway, you should only equip your energy sword and Five-seven just before the match starts." Sinon stated as Kirito nods. "Also, you should change. You can't possibly be wearing that in the tournament, are you?" Sinon pointed out at her white attire to which Kirito look at his attire, realising that he hadn't changed yet.
Looking up, Kirito noticed that Sinon hasn't changed yet which brought confusion edge on his face. "What about you? Why haven't you changed yet?"
A tiny blush spread across her cheeks when she heard the question and she immediately glares at the black haired, who flinched and took a step backwards, regretting the decision to ask. Sighing, Sinon opens up her menu, "Let's just change." Just as she finishes, her casual street clothes disappear and in turns replaced by a black sports bra and panties.
At the sight, Kirito immediately closed his eyes with his hands.
"W-Wait!" Kirito stuttered as he tightly closed his eyes from looking at the blue haired any further than he already had.
"What's wrong with you? You should change." Sinon stated as confusion swept across her face at the black haired's strange behaviour.
"Uh, it's not that-No, I should show you instead." Kirito bowed his body as he opens his menu and swipes it towards Sinon where his personal information was visible; name, and gender.
Confused by his choice of action, Sinon decided to look at the information through the menu in front of her. She let out a smirk spread across her lips as she read the black haired's name first. "It's an interesting name as before." She glances upwards at Kirito who still bowed his head at her. But then she glances down at her gender right below her name, expecting to see that she was a girl. She wanted to skip it since it was so obvious in her eyes that Kirito looked exactly like a girl. But something told her to look at the gender and when she did, her eyes widen in surprise. "Y-You're a male?" She asked looking up at Kirito who cringed at her surprised tone laced with a little bit of anger. But just before things could get any worse, the door to the room opens up and revealed a certain brunette walking through the doorway casually before stopping to process the sight in front of him. His eyebrows furrowed as he looked at Kirito first before turning to the shocked Sinon who only wore nothing but a black sports bra with matching panties.
"Wha-What are you doing here?!" Sinon asked as she instantly got her gun from her menu and pointed it towards Train's forehead. "This isn't the place for you filthy 'males'." She stated with venom in her voice as she stared at Train and then Kirito.
"I-I'm sorry! I was about to tell you-" Kirito held his hands up high in surrender while he stared at the gun in her grasp in slight fear.
"Shut up!" Sinon stated as she narrows her eyes dangerously at Kirito, who cleared his throat and was silenced by her glare. "You're one to talk. Ever since we've met, you were trying to lure me isn't that right? The truth is you're one of his accomplices, right?" Sinon exclaimed as she pointed her gun at Kirito, who immediately shakes his head in denial.
"No! You got it all wrong!"
"What is the truth then? You're going to eliminate me before I progress any further into the tournament? Newsflash, I'm not going to let that happen anytime soon-?!" Before she could finish, Sinon felt both of her hands in a tight grip before feeling them being brought above her head and instinctively drop her weapon in the process. "Agh!" Sinon winces at the pain engulfing her hands.
"She's not going to listen to reason from here onwards." Train spoke to Kirito as he stared down at Sinon who was surprised at first before she glares heatedly at him and scowled.
"Let go of me!" Sinon squirmed under his grip with all of her strength but to her surprise, she can barely move her hands under his death vice-like grip. Gritting her teeth, Sinon instantly kneed upwards towards Train's crotch but it was blocked by his free hand.
"Stubborn, huh?" Train stated with a small smirk of amusement as Sinon return his gesture with a intense snarl. Seeing the expression, Train let out a low chuckle before his expression changes as well; his eyes narrowed slightly and a small frown was visible across his lips. At that moment, Sinon couldn't help the fear that started to grow inside her as she faces the Black Cat that inhumanly killed his targets without remorse in an instant. Her eyes begin to take on a more fearful color as she stared at the cat-like yellow eyes.
"I'm not afraid..." Sinon thought as she gritted her teeth in frustration, trying to hide her vulnerability. "I'm not afraid!" She stared hard at the brunette who kept staring her down.
"Don't be scared." Sinon's eyes widen in surprise at the blunt words coming out of his mouth and she couldn't believe how he could read her mind exactly. "I'm not going to kill you. That's not why I'm here." He explained as Sinon looks at the brunette with her surprised expression evident on her face. She inwardly blew a air of relief once he finishes, but was puzzled as she knew that he couldn't kill her in a safe area. Realising her mistake and pushing away the thought instantly, she composed herself by closing her eyes for a moment before opening them and immediately made eye contact with the brunette.
"Then, why are you here? How did you know we were here?" Sinon asked professionally, keeping her eyes trained on Train, unaware of the fact that she was only wearing a pair of sports bra and panties in the open while she was trapped by none other than Black Cat, an highly-skilled assassin.
Meanwhile, Kirito watches the two from the sidelines and he admit that the atmosphere turned different in a negative way as the two stared down at each other. Not wanting to mix himself with them, he stood still in his spot while watching them. But just as he thought the situation couldn't be more worrisome, the words that came out of Train's mouth breaks the situation instantly.
"I don't. I came here to sleep. It'll be a while before the tournament starts. So I decided to sleep to pass the duration." Train explained as both Sinon and Kirito looked extremely surprised by the assassin's answer, never expecting the simple reason that came from him, an assassin.
"Is that a joke? Because I'm not laughing." Sinon stated with a glare as Train let out a small smirk cross his lips.
"Be that as it may, it's the truth." Train explained as he leans down on Sinon who was still glaring at him intensely. Once the brunette was a few inches from the girl's face, he stare at the glaring eyes of the girl. "You know I've been wondering about something of you. Hecate." At the name, Sinon couldn't hide the surprise visible in her eyes. Noticing the growing smirk on the brunette's lips, Sinon immediately composed herself, not wanting to give the satisfaction to him about mysteriously knowing her nickname that she shared with her weapon.
"How did he know?" Sinon thought suspiciously.
Meanwhile, Kirito quirked an eyebrow at the name. "Is it her name? How did he know her name? Does he know her?" The questions swirled around Kirito's mind as he tried to conclude the relationship between the brunette and his friend. The black haired looked at the couple and he closed his eyes, turning away. His dirty mind acting up as he finally realised the position in which the two were in. "Does she mind? Do they mind? Or they don't realised it yet?" He thought in distress.
Glaring at the brunette still, Sinon waited him to continue. But just as she heard the sentence, her mind freezes.
"Why do you want to kill me?"
"..." Sinon stare absentmindedly before her mind register the sentence again and again. Before long, she started gritting her teeth and glares intensely at Train. "That's not your business to know. But if your an assassin as they all say, you already know the answer to it. Ain't assassin supposed to know their targets first before they killed them?" At the harsh tone, Train knew that he was facing a dead end to figuring out the reason she tried to kill him when he doesn't know her at all at the time that he was being chased at by the streets. The reason he knows her nickname was coincidentally as he heard a few players in the hall, called the said name when they focused their sights onto the blue haired player.
Glancing up, Train sighed inwardly. Suddenly, Sinon could feel her hands being released and she watches the brunette turns his back on her and walked away to the door to leave. But just as the mechanical door slides open, the brunette turns his head over his right shoulder, an amused smile played on his lips.
Confused, Sinon tried to find the cause of his amusement. Not finding to the object to his satisfaction, she instead glares at him.
Noticing her action, Train kept smiling in amusement before speaking.
"When I came here, I didn't expect to be rewarded at all. But imagine my surprise that I got a reward that I never bargained for. Is that reward act as an apology for our first impression? I think it is." He smiled amusingly before continuing. "Anyway, thanks for the display reward, I appreciate it. And I personally enjoyed our 'make-up session' together. I hope you do too." Train teased before turning his head and walked out from the room, leaving Sinon to stare in confusion and Kirito who was still closing his eyes.
"What is he talking about?" Sinon asked herself out loud before she look at Kirito, who pointed his left finger directly at her while he kept closing his eyes. Looking at the direction that his finger pointed, she trailed the direction and stopped as her eyes landed on herself, specifically her choice of clothing that she adorned at the moment.
It only took a moment before her mind registered the brunette words once more and her face instantly turns red from embarrassment. Her mind then was hit full force at the situation she had experienced; her half naked body nearly pressing against the brunette while he captured her hands above her head, her chest heaving back and forth as she tried to maintain her composure, and the proximity between their faces for a moment. All of the piece of memory finally hits her and she found herself speechless to say anything.
"...You mean to tell me...that I was naked the entire time while I'm with him?" Sinon barely finishes her sentence as Kirito nods slowly but still keeping his eyes closed.
"Half naked, actually." At the voice, Sinon instantly narrows her eyes at the black haired and she walked towards him. Sensing her in front of him, Kirito made the effort to turn his head facing her and open his eyes. What he got wasn't pleasant in his mind.
"Ah!" Kirito winced after touching his right cheek that held a red printed hand mark. He then look ahead at the blue haired who had her eyes closed. He sighed, "I should told her sooner..." He scratches the back of his neck. "But if I did, wouldn't it be worse? Yeah...It wouldn't end with a slap at that." He shakes his head before he noticed his friend stop.
"Would you stop following me?" Sinon stated with an annoyed look.
"Huh?" Kirito stared at her surprised. "But I don't know what to do."
"Stop following me." Sinon stated as she walked to the left way while Kirito followed behind her.
"But I don't know anyone else."
"Stop following me. You have Sephiria and Saya to show you." Sinon explained as she walked the opposite direction but Kirito kept following her from behind.
"I know. But-"
"Girls, over here!" Both Kirito and Sinon look up ahead of them, seeing Sephiria and Saya sitting on one of the resting spot. The girl clad in her yukata waved at them with a wide smile.
"Girls, huh?" Sinon said as she pointedly look at Kirito who cringed at her. "Don't forget you owe them quite an explanation concerning your 'gender'. Once we get there."
"Hai." Kirito said slumping his shoulders before he and Sinon walked towards the resting spot as Saya still waved at them. When they were nearer, Saya let down her waving hand and greeted them.
"Glad to see you're already changed. By the way, what took you two so long? I never thought changing would be time consuming." Saya tilt her head to the side in curiosity.
At the question being thrown at her, Sinon couldn't help but blush in retaliation.
Seeing the pink hue spreading her cheeks, Sephiria raised an eyebrow. "Did something happen?" After she asked, realisation dawned on her and she turns to Kirito who nervously scratched his head.
Sensing the stare from the blonde, Kirito waved his hands furiously in denial. "No. It's not what you think."
"What are we thinking?" Saya asked in curiosity.
Kirito looked at Sinon, who refused to look at him and instead gaze at the floor with flaming cheeks followed by a frown.
"Uh..." Kirito tried to think of how to explain to the girls after what happened earlier on their arrival to the hall. After that event, he knows that it would only caused trouble if he brought up the brunette assassin as the main topic and also the reason of Sinon's stupor at the moment. "The thing is..." Kirito started before he glances at Sinon for the last time and when she didn't make eye contact still, he continued. "I'm a boy. Not a girl." He confessed to Sephiria and Saya.
"You're a boy, Kirito-san?" Saya exclaimed in disbelief while Sephiria faked a surprised look but hid the small smile of amusement twitching at the corner of her lips. "B-But, you look-"
"Like a girl?" Kirito finishes as Saya lift her hand.
"No offence but you definitely look female to me. Your voice even has that hint of femininity." Saya explained as Kirito slumped his shoulder with a sweat drop and an awkward smile straining his lips.
"Did it really?" Kirito asked as Saya nodded innocently. Meanwhile, Sephiria chuckled at the back of her hand, entirely amused by their conversation. The blonde then steals a glance at Sinon and a small smile settled on her lips; hearing the stifle sound of a laugh bubbling in the girl's throat.
At the sound, both Saya and Kirito looked at Sinon who lightly laughed humorously.
"Looks like all you need was a laugh." Saya stated as Sinon slowly stop laughing before she looked at the attention drawn towards her. Her face flushed as she abruptly cough to compose herself.
"...It's not everyday you get to hear that."
At the sentence, Kirito deflated which caused her to looked at him in slight amusement meanwhile enlightening the others to watch in humour.
"I don't understand girls..." Kirito commented in thought with a defeated tone.
"Anyway, sorry Kirito-san. We can't help it." Saya apologised as Kirito looks up at her and smile reassuringly.
"It's okay, Saya. Unfortunately, this is the way my character looks like in GGO. I entered like this." Kirito gestured to himself. "For the record, I recently converted my account from another VVRMO."
"Really? But why do you look like a girl? I mean, similar to a girl." Saya asked sheepishly as Kirito sighed.
"Honestly, I don't know..." He grumbled but he knowingly blamed his transformation on the game or rather the converting system of the game. "But it's a good thing I'm not entirely a girl. That would be too much to handle."
Hearing his comment, Sephiria couldn't help but ask a question at him. "Is being a woman stressful for you? Are you saying we are lesser than what you are as a male?" At the scolding tone, Kirito immediately freezes before furiously waving his hands in front of him back and forth.
"No! No! That's not what I meant either!"
"I wonder if 'she' wants to hear about this. Also the fact about your predicament of looking like a female version of yourself. She might enjoyed it." Sephiria had to suppress her teasing smile from stretching as she saw Kirito gaped in realisation before pointing a finger at her.
"You-You wouldn't..."
"The question is who wouldn't?" Sephiria teased as Kirito couldn't help but gaped at her, speechless to counter.
Slumping his shoulder, Kirito looked at Sephiria with pleading eyes. "Please don't. It's hard enough that I have to be..." He then grabs a lock of his hair in his right hand. "I have to be like this."
"Look on the bright side, now you finally learned a few things about us girls." Saya explained with a bright smile as Kirito sighed.
"I don't know if that's a compliment or not. Aside from the cat calls I got before I got there, I kind of feel the same as you girls. How do you endure yourself from them?"
"Just don't. Don't give a slight thing of care about them. That's their nature unfortunately. The last thing you want on your mind is them calling you in pubs and bars. It gets worse from there." Sinon explained as Kirito looked at her in surprise while Saya nods, accepting her fact to be true. "Just ignore them. If they're stubborn, put a bullet in their feet. They definitely stop harassing you from there onwards."
"Thanks."
"Don't get too accustom to my help. Also, don't think this will clear things up between the two of us for what you did earlier." Sinon narrowed her eyes. "I'm just trying to help because you suffer the same fate as with the other girls with that 'avatar'." Sinon answered with her mouth covered by her muffler while Kirito nods reluctantly but in appreciation nonetheless.
"T-Thanks. But I'm very sorry that-"
"Don't apologize. It's in the past, but if you do it again..." Sinon glances at Kirito who furiously waves his hand in protest.
"I-I got it."
Looking down, Sinon sighed before her eyes narrowed dangerously. "It's bad enough that 'he' came." At the sentence, both Sephiria and Saya looked at her before turning to Kirito who rub the back of of his head.
"What happen?" Saya asked in thought as she turns to Sinon. "Who is 'he'?" She glances at Sephiria, who was looking curiously at Sinon that was deep in thought.
"Is 'he'..." Sephiria started which brought Sinon to look up at the blonde. "Who I think he is?" She slightly narrows her eyes as both she and Sinon made eye contact.
"You've known him enough." At the answer, Sephiria tighten her hold on her arm while her arms were crossed over her chest.
"Why did he came? Did he threaten you?" Hearing the question, Sinon glances away.
"...No. It's far from that. He wanted to sleep to pass the time before the tournament starts." She stated before she look at Sephiria. "Do you believe that? Because I'm seriously not laughing."
Looking down in deep thought, Sephiria thought about Train for his purpose-true purpose of 'sleeping' before the tournament stated by himself. But she could think any further about him, she was interrupted by Kirito.
"What if he wanted to sleep all along?" Kirito asked as both Sephiria and Sinon looked at him including Saya. Sensing the stares boring into him, he continued. "I mean, he said it like he mean it. What would he do besides sleeping before the tournament?"
At the question, either Sinon nor Sephiria know the answer to it. The answers that they thought of in their minds were quickly shot down because it wouldn't do make sense while they were in the safe area; which meant no killing. Aside from that, they couldn't think of much about it.
Sighing, Sinon speaks up. "How about we'll talk about this later? It's a headache thinking about him all day." She reasoned as Sephiria looked at her before looking down.
"...You're right. There isn't much information about him that we know except what is already said in the news." Sephiria turns to Sinon who nods.
"Anyway, since we got exactly 5 minutes before the tournament, I'll offer my help one last time and after that we're enemies, alright?" Sinon asked the three others.
Hearing the statement, Saya frowned. "Enemies? But we'll still be friends right?"
Turning to her, Sinon smiled and nods. "We'll still be. But I suggest that you look out for yourself out there. I can't help you in the tournament."
"Thank you." Kirito stated smiling.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I haven't forgiven you." Sinon look pointedly at Kirito who flinches at her gaze. Sighing, Sinon looked at the time displayed above the pyramid. The other three followed her gaze as she started speaking. "Once that countdown hits 0, all the entrants here will be automatically transferred to a battlefield containing them and their first-round opponent."
"Okay." Kirito nods in understanding while both Saya and Sephiria listened in on her explanation.
"The field is a one kilometer square region. The terrain, weather, and time are random. You'll start a minimum of five hundred meters apart. And once the match ends, the winner is sent back here. The loser is sent to the first-floor hall. If you lose, there aren't any random equipment drops. In Block F, there are sixty-four people. So five victories takes you to the finals, and gives you the right to enter the main tournament. I won't explain further or answer any questions." Sinon finishes as she glances at the other three to see if they understand.
"We understand." Sephiria smiled as Kirito nods.
"I think I've got it. Thanks."
"You'd better make it to the finals. I've taught you so much, and I want to teach you one last thing." Sinon said as she glances at Kirito whom she met today and taught a lot.
"One last thing?" Kirito asked as he glances at Sephiria and Saya, who both held a confused look. The three of them then looked at Sinon to hear her.
"The taste of the bullet that means defeat." Sinon finishes as Kirito stare at her for a while before he smiled in understanding.
"I look forward to it. But what about you?" Kirito asked Sinon who snicker.
"If I wash out in the qualifiers, I'm retiring. This time..." Sinon glances up as the other three looked at her in slight worry after hearing her tone changes. "This time...I will kill all the strong ones." She said before letting out a wide smirk across her cheeks, surprising the other three. Sinon then looked at the three before speaking again with her usual stoic demeanor. "This will be the last time we talk like this, so I'll give you all my name." She said as she open her menu and swipes it towards the three to see. "It's the name of the one who will someday defeat you." Sinon stated the last part directly to Kirito who looked at the menu in front of him along with Sephiria and Saya.
"Sinon." Kirito said her name for the first time before recounting the name that was spoken by the brunette in the changing room. "What about Hecate? Is that your name too?"
At the name, Sinon's eyes widen slightly before narrowing her eyes and gazes away from him. "...It's a nickname. That's all I can say."
Quirking an eyebrow at the brief explanation, Kirito nods as he saw that he couldn't get any further details than what he had been offered.
"You're late, Sinon." A new voice voices out as Sinon looked up ahead. "I was worried you wouldn't make it."
"Hi, Spiegel. I got caught up in something unexpected." Sinon said as her tone changes to a happy one, which surprises the other three at the transformation. The male player named Spiegel started walking up to Sinon who looked at him in confusion. "But...Didn't you say you aren't going to enter?" She asked as she slides back to give room for her friend.
Spiegel takes the sit next to her before he scratches his head sheepishly.
"I thought it might be a pain, but I came to cheer you on. You can watch the match on a big screen here. By the way, what did you mean by 'something unexpected?'"
"Ah...I was showing that person the way here." Sinon glances at Kirito. "And I help a bit for them as well." She looked at both Sephiria and Saya.
"Hello. It's nice to meet you! My name's Saya." Saya introduced with a smile as Spiegel looked at her in surprise of her cheerfulness and admitted inwardly that she looked pretty in her yukata. "And this is Sephiria." Saya gestured towards the blonde as Spiegel looked at her friend next to her. His eyes widen at seeing another pretty girl besides her and Sinon.
"Nice to meet you." Sephiria smiled with a nod as Spiegel smiles back before focusing on the last person which was seating across from him.
"Hi, I'm that person that Sinon talked about."
"Hi, nice to meet you. Are you three friends of Sinon's?" Spiegel asked shyly.
"Don't be fooled. The one in front of you is a guy." Sinon said as Spiegel looked surprised by the information.
"Aha...My name is Kirito." Kirito introduced as Spiegel looked at the other two.
"Yes, we're friends of Sinon. Although we only met today but I already consider Sinon, my friend." Saya smiled as Sinon smiled in appreciation at the black haired, founding pleasing to hear from her words.
"Me too. Without her, I think it would be harder to find Kirito in this city. And she's been a great help on explaining the BoB for us." Sephiria added as Spiegel smiled and nodded proudly at Sinon who smiled at the blonde.
"Yes, she's been a big help to us. In a lot of ways." Kirito added with a smile.
"Stop that...And I don't want you calling me by name."
"Don't be so cold. Saya can call you so why can't I?" Kirito asked waving his hand up and down in a calming way towards Sinon.
"Cold? I don't even know you! And Saya's not you!"
"But you helped me pick out my equipment."
"Th-That was because-" Sinon meant to reply before a ray of light invaded her sights. Sinon and the others looked up at the glowing shaped diamond on top of the pyramid.
"We apologize for the wait. The Bullet of Bullets 3 Qualifying Tournament will now begin. After the countdown, all players who have entered the tournament will be automatically transported to the first-round field map. Good luck." After the announcement, gun shots were sounded throughout the main hall as everyone cheered in excitement.
Looking at the crowd of cheering players, Kirito was interrupted by Sinon who stood up from her seat.
"Get to the finals!" She stated pointing her right finger towards him as Kirito looked at her. "I'll kick your butt there before I kick 'his'!"
Smiling at the invitation, Kirito stands up from his spot. "If you're inviting me, I'll have to be sure I'm there." Kirito teases before silently leave his spot as Sinon gritted her teeth in slight frustration.
"Y-You!"
Walking away from the resting spot,, Kirito stops and looks back to see Sinon gritting her teeth while glaring him. He then turns his attention to Spiegel who narrows his eyes towards him, much to his surprise.
"Maybe that was taking it a little far. " Kirito thought before light engulfed him.
Time Skip
"Huh?" Train questioned as he walked inside the qualifier-tournament area after he had slept in one of the waiting room. When he walked into the said area, he immediately noticed that dozen of players appeared to be missing since the area as he recalled, was previously crowded by registered players before. Looking around, he saw several players appearing out from nowhere and he immediately suspected that they were already finished fighting their respective battles by the way their faces give out hints of a battle won; relief, proud and lastly, happiness.
Just as he looked around, he look at his right and he immediately stopped his observation and instead focused onto a certain blonde standing a few feet from him. A ghostly smile spread across his lips as he looked at the blonde looking at the hologram screens placed around the top of the pyramid. At that moment, the blonde glances at her right before her eyes widen in surprise; one of which he noticed. She looked surprised when her eyes laid on his but she didn't make any move to go to him and instead opted to stare at him with slight anger beneath her orbs. The two stare for a moment before blue light suddenly envelope her and Train at the same time.
"...What?" Sephiria said under her breath, eyes wide as she registered a genuine smile on the brunette's lips just before he disappeared from her view. By the smile, she was immediately was assaulted by her stomach tightening up from anxiety. Confusion swept across her face before she looked up the window panel above her.
Sephiria vs Kato
Remaining Time: 58 seconds
Field: Church
After looking at the duration, she was assaulted by the tightening of her stomach, much to her confusion. Reaching over to grasp her stomach, she recalled the brunette's smile, feeling unusual for some reason. She then shook her head a couple of times, ridding herself from the feeling to focus on the task of battling against her first opponent in Bullet of Bullets 3.
"Izayoi-kun." She closed her eyes as she think about her husband and hoped that he was in the tournament just as her right now. After a while, she open her eyes just as blue light evaded her view. "I'll do my best." She thought determinedly as she looked upon the night that she was transported to. She look up ahead and saw a big church a mile away. Grasping her right hand to the handle of her sword, she bounded towards the church, knowing that she would start battling her opponent there.
Meanwhile...
Yellow eyes scan the sand dune background around him, trying to find any signs of his opponent. But to no avail as the brunette stood in his spot while Hades was still strapped to his thigh.
A breeze pass by him, blowing the ends of his trench coat for the second time. It was at that moment, Train instantly pull out his gun and shoot a single bullet at his right. Time seemed to slow down as Train's eyes follows his bullet before another bullet made itself known a few centimeters in front of it. Suddenly, time returned to normal and the two bullets collided with each other and was instantly deflected, blowing back the bullets to the sandy soil.
Train's eyes trained to the direction of the other bullet, turning his body to face the direction before slowly walking towards it. The ends of his trench coat flows through the breeze that made itself known for the third time but the brunette kept his focus solely in front of him. After a few steps forward, Train lifted Hades to his face, deflecting a few attempted shots to his face. At the bottom of Hades's trigger, Train looked to the spot where the bullets were shot from prior to his eyes catching a glimpse of where it was during the start of the assault.
His ears perked up as he heard a clicking sound and he watches an oval shaped object thrown at him. His eyes narrowed as he instantly disappeared by side stepping to his right. Just as he disappeared, the spot where he stood was exploded, sending back debris and sand everywhere. Amidst the smoke everywhere, a silhouette could be seen standing up before starting to run behind him.
A couple of grenades could be seen in the man's clutches by his right hand. Other than that, his face was shrouded by complete fear after he had caught a glimpse of his opponent. "Why is it him of all people? Why?" He shouted in mind as he kept running without looking back, fearing that the assassin would catch him. "Damn it! Why him out of the people I had to fight?" He asked himself in between panting as he kept running. As his mind was so wrap by his thought, he was unaware of the pair of black boots appearing in front of him. Gritting his teeth, the opponent's face took on a determined look. A grin spread across his face as he tighten his hold on his grenades. "...I'll win. That's right, I'm gonna blow his head of-?!" He was cut off as he abruptly collided by something and fall backwards. Just as his body laid on the ground, he look up to see what had he collided to. As soon as his eyes lay upon the person in front of him, all the colors in his face was visibly drained out.
"Where do you think you're going in a hurry? You don't think you can escape right?" Train stated as his narrowed yellow cat slit eyes bore into his opponent's terrified eyes. Then the brunette looks down at the clothing adorned by his opponent. It was similarly like a priest exclude the priest hat. Other than that, he wore combat pants with matching boots.
"You-You're-" The priest-like player stuttered as his hands shakes nervously around the grenades that was hidden in sight under his cloak. The priest slowly drags himself backwards as his shuffling sounds across the sandy soil covered up the clicking sound of the grenades.
"I came to deliver bad luck." Train said to the priest who gulped down his fear.
"...Black Ca-?!" The priest was cut off as a bullet went straight to his skull before multiples bullets came after that. Gasping, the priest froze into his spot as Hades hovering over his head with small wisps of smoke releasing from the muzzle.
Congratulations
Izayoi Wins!
Train looked up at the window that appeared above him and his eyes linger at his name for a while. Before long, blue light envelope his sights and he closed his eyes. Just as he disappeared, the area around him exploded caused by the grenades that were left active from the priest-like player.
Lost Ancient Temple
"If I'm this close..." Kirito thought as he aimed his gun at his opponent, Uemaru. Seeing the green circle zooming in and out, he took the shot causing two bullets to hit his opponent in the middle of reloading.
Gritting his teeth, Kirito jumps forward as he thrust his purple light saber at Uemaru, piercing him through his chest as his scream reaches his ear. A burst of electrical current burst from the collision of the light saber to the opponent's chest. Gripping tightly at his light saber, Kirito thrust his light saber more into his opponent's chest as his HP could be seen decreasing to the orange bar zone. The electrical current moves wildly around the opponent before he exploded into polygons.
After his opponent was defeated, Kirito spins his light saber before sheathing it on his back just like he used to in SAO. "Ah...I did it again..." Realising this, Kirito pulled his light saber to his side and deactivate it.
Falling down on the ground with a tired sigh, he look up at the panel window appearing above him.
Congratulations
Kirito Wins!
"I've gotta do something so tiring four more times?" He asked himself before leaning his head back just as he was teleported back.
Qualifier Tournament Area
Opening his eyes, Kirito looked around the dome and noticed several players standing around the pyramid while watching the screens above the structure. He also noticed several players sitting around, registering their relief faces which made him guessed that they had won the first round like him. Just as he continue looking around, his eyes spotted Sinon's friend that he presumed was her boyfriend. But after he recalled the angry look that he received from him, he knows that he had made a mistake on proclaiming it.
Looking up at the screen in which he looked, he stared to wonder where his friends were at the time. He looked around at the screens before a breath suddenly invaded his thoughts.
"Are you the real thing?" Just as the mysterious person asked midst standing behind the black haired, Kirito instantly side step to the left and turns his body to face the person that was previously standing behind him.
As he turns to face the hooded cloaked player, Kirito grits his teeth as he immediately grasp his light saber but did not make an attempt to activate it. Kirito look at the player and he immediately recounted that he was the player that got shot by Black Cat after he had just entered GGO. His eyes narrows at the red bright eyes of the player metal face which gives off a creepy aura; one that he doesn't like.
Sighing, Kirito relaxes his stance a bit and stand upright. "The real thing? What do you mean? Who are you?" He asked as the hooded cloaked player walks towards him in slow strides. Clutching his light saber, Kirito narrows his eyes at the player. Once the hooded cloaked player stopped in front of him, he leans closer to Kirito's face.
"I saw your fight. You used your sword, didn't you?" He asked slowly.
"Y-Yeah, it isn't against the rules, right?" Kirito asked before the player leans closer to him, causing him to moves his head back from the creepiness of the player.
"I'll ask again. Are you the real thing?" The player asked as he stared at Kirito's eyes that started to took on a surprise and terrified look.
"Does this person know me?" Kirito asked in thought as he stare at the red bright eyes of the robotic metal face. "I'm sure of it. We've met before. We've spoke face to face. But where? Where did we meet?" All of the questions were currently surrounding his mind as Kirito attempted to figure the player his identity.
Suddenly, Kirito caught movement and he watches the hooded cloaked player slides his arm from his cloak and lift it to open his menu, selecting the guide option on beside his characteristics.
Worlds
Fields
Quest
Tournament
Four options appeared from the guide option and he taps the tournament; opening up the option, BoB.
Selecting BoB option, he taps a button besides the letter M which was next to the letters BoB. The second he taps the button, it showed the qualifier blocks; A till I. The player taps the F Block, revealing the qualifier block of all of participants listed within the block. Tapping one of the boxes of the block at the upper right, it showed Kirito's name and Uemaru's. Sliding the window towards Kirito to see, the black haired saw his name.
"This name..." The player started as he traces his index finger across Kirito's name from behind the see through window. "That skill with a blade. Are you the real thing?" He asked again as Kirito suddenly was hit by memories he experienced in SAO.
After a while of recounting, Kirito looks at the hooded cloaked player and grits his teeth. "I...I know this person, too." Kirito thought before realisation dawned and he stare at the player in front of him who decided to turn his head at him. "We're the same. We're both SAO survivors." He thought in shock. "Who is this person? Where did we meet?" He asked. After a while, the hooded player lift down his finger which caused the menu to disappear and Kirito's eyes caught a glimpse of a tattoo on his wrist underneath the bandages around his right arm. His eyes widen as he suddenly recounted the memories that came with the tattoo. The choices he had to make. The lives he had to take, and the regret that came as the result. As Kirito's pupils begin to shrink in size, he was unaware the sound of a gun drawing out from its holster before he was immediately shaken out of his stupor by the sight of a gun pointed behind the hooded player's head.
"Mind if I interrupt? You know I can't help but notice that you're looking for trouble whenever you're around. Is it a habit of yours?" The hooded cloaked player glances behind him and he was greeted by a brunette, who glares coldly at him with narrowed eyes which highlights his dangerous yellow cat slit eyes.
"Black Cat."
"Are you desperate to get attention or desperate to get killed? Or both? Because it seems to me, you would be both."
"Black Cat...No..." The player trailed off as silence overwhelm the atmosphere surrounding the three. After a while of silence, the player spoke up. "Izayoi. That is your name."
At the spoken name, Kirito's eyes widen in shock as Train narrowed his eyes dangerously than before.
"Izayoi?" Kirito thought in disbelief.
"You're...the real thing. There are no others that has that name. There is only one." The hooded cloaked player stated to Train who tighten his right hand around the handle of his gun, Hades. "Without a doubt."
"Since you know of me, then you know what's best for you to act now, right? Even though we haven't met before but I can tell that we have a long history with each other. As SAO players."
"Former." The hooded player replied. "I heard of you, White Swordsman. Also, the name that every SAO player has heard, The Thousand Blades. Including every member in my guild. I know, and experienced what you are capable of. You almost wiped out our guild in that fight…"
"What are you talking about?" Train asked in slight confusion at his sentence while he stared hard at the hooded cloaked player.
"…I forgot. After this long, I would have thought you would remember but it seems I was wrong...But I'm certain that…You'll remember." At this, Train's eyes narrows in respond.
"…If what you said is true, then you know what I can do to you, correct?"
"...I...will withdraw. For now." The player said before he soundlessly walked pass by Kirito, leaving Kirito to stare at the player as he goes, unaware of another pair of eyes looking at the figure as he left.
Turning around to face the brunette, Kirito couldn't fathom the words spoken by the hooded player earlier. But when he stated his best friend and mentor's name, he couldn't help but to stare at Black Cat who looked at the direction where the player left before sheathing his gun inside its holster.
"...Izayoi." Kirito called out as Train looked at the black haired and a smirk spread across his face.
"Took you long enough. Didn't think it would take you this long to find me." At the brunette's remark, Kirito smiled genuinely, relief and happy that he found his best friend through an unfortunate encounter.
"…Y-Yeah, I never thought of that too. But who would?"
To Be Continued…
Unfortunately, that is the end of this chapter. Was it to your liking after all?
We have a lot of drama going on here in this chapter, especially with Kirito finding out about Train's identity being Izayoi. What will happen in the next chapter? Will this change anything major throughout the story? We'll find out by the next chapter…
