The front seat next to the door was the worst place, everyone could always find you, and there was no where to run if you were surrounded by airheads. Shouhei sighed before reading a sudden notification that Kendo practice was going to be cancelled today. He perked up, grabbing his bag decidedly wasting to escape the building as fast as possible. However, just as he stepped out into the hall, he was met with a rude looking girl with twin tails. She was in his grade, but was known to be a hassle to deal with.

"Kirigaya!"

Her face was scrunched with discontent peering at his face, arm's crossed in a aggressive manner.

"Come with me."

"No."

She didn't like the answer. "Just do it!" She then grabbed his arm and was forced out into the hallway and outside of the school building. Outside was a smaller girl looking towards the ground with her hands behind her back.

The mean girl stood nearby with her armed crossed, "You better not be mean to her."

He made no promises.

"So, what do you want?" He asked bluntly.

"Um, that is..." she suddenly held out a letter towards him with a heart sticker on the seal. "W-Would you mind going out some time?!"

He immediately turned away. "Wait! Kirigaya!" the girl pleaded. Now she grabbed his arm placing the letters in his hand. "I won't be a bother, I promise! I've liked you for a really long time now, and I was told you didn't have a girl friend so..."

What was it that sis always said to say?

"I'm faltered in your interest in me, but I'm not looking for any sort of commitment." He warned before ignoring the mean girl and walked directly to the lockers and then out of the building.

Shouhei sat across from his sisters bed side arriving in a now more upscale hospital than she was previously stationed in having better equipment, as well as a nicer room. His heart always managed to sink looking at the person he once looked up to now in such a state. Even though the curtain's were left open for most of the day, her skin was pale as it clung to her bones. Her health has deteriorated over the years, slowly eating away at her life; even now it made him furious to face that he couldn't do anything to help her.

"Hey sis, I made vice captain of the Kendo club this week." He said with a smile. "The adviser said that if I can refine my skills then I can make captain my final year. It's kind of why I haven't been able to visit as often as I usually do…"

The only response was her steady heart beat.

"Mom wanted to be here too, but you know how hard she has to work. I know it's gotta be hard on you that she's not as often as she wants to be, but everyday we're hoping that you'll wake up just like the rest of the SAO players..."

No response once again. Shouhei sighed, he didn't know why he felt sad, it had been like this for years, even if she did respond it would probably give him a heart attack. Suddenly, the door opened behind him as his heart raced.

Turning the corner was a averaged sized man with his hair combed back wearing glasses. He had an arrangement of flowers in his hands in a vase. "Ah, Sho. It's surprising to see you here."

"It's Shouhei." He angrily glared at the man in front of him."Why should it be surprising? She's my sister after all."

"Forgive me, just assumed you were scarred off from since your last visit. She was very lucky you know, having at least one member of her family to visit her."

Shouhei gritted his teeth, on the surface the man looked relatively respectable. But he didn't dare shake the feeling of disgust practically radiating from this man who managed to hide so well.

" Shall I expect to be seeing you here often from now on?"

"…yes."

He smiled placing the bouquet of flowers returning from where he walked in from. Upon hearing the click from the door closing Shouhei released an uneasy breath of tension. He realized that he had reflexively grabbed onto his sisters hand the second Sugou Nobuyuki had entered the room.

"Something's just not right about that guy sis...I swear if his offer wasn't so damn generous..." Fury ignited his gut at the memory.

...

He and his mother were greeted by the stranger a week after everyone from Sword Art Online was free. He immediately ran to the hospital when everyone in Japan was notified, skipping class with his hopes soaring that she would be awake. That maybe, that way they would finally be a family again. Those hopes were crushed the second he stepped in the room. His mom was here first, crying at her daughter's bedside while she still slept soundly.

As far as they knew no one else from the game had remained in their coma's. But with the game cleared, and his sister still alive there was no indication of why she was still alive if she wasn't free of Sword Art Online. The Doctor's could only say that perhaps she had slipped in a coma, but no one dared to take off the NerveGear that still trapped her. A few days later, Nobuyuki appeared, a smiled on his face and an offer to try and help his sister. His mother had signed over her daughter's care to the man who kept the NerveGear server on, just to keep her alive.

The contract said that Nobuyuki would prepare the transport to a more accommodating private hospital a good distance farther from their home and would pay for every expense from his personal account, provided that they keep her condition hidden from the public; a way to make amends, Nobuyuki had put it, with a sickening smile on his face. Shouhei didn't blame his mom for her choice, the bills were adding up over the years, and to her, this man seemed genuine in his concern. But the moment that freak thought the two of them had left, Shouhei saw a frightening expression that Nobuyuki gave to his sister; One of ill intent. Ever since then, no matter what, he made the trip to see her to ensure she was unharmed.

...

"I'll be back when I can sis." He remained for an extra hour simply resting his head on the edge of the bed, dozing off under the now setting sun before shouldering his backpack. Giving his sister's hand a final squeeze as he made the long walk home.

"I'm home."

Shouhei kicked off his shoes, placing them outside before entering his empty house.

"hrm?" He pulled out his phone when he heard it ping.

[RKN: Dive ASAP, got some super juicy news to share!]

Immediately he walked into the kitchen and scarfed down a sandwich he made earlier in that morning, took a shower, putting on only a pair of pants as he jumped into bed. He turned on his A/C unit and with a small smile put on his AmuSphere and with a smirk smiled.

"Link, Start!"

..

...

The next time Shouhei opened his eyes he was surrounded by a majority of green haired Sylphs. He received a message from Recon.

[Head to the top of the tower, I'm waiting there!]

He sent a quick, okay, response and flew quickly to the highest point in the city. Spotting Recon sitting on the edge of the landing platform he landed gracefully. "Hey."

Recon turned his head with a smile, "About time you showed up!" He gestured for him to come closer.

Shouhei sat down next to him, "So? What's this gossip you came up with?"

"I didn't come up with anything! But I've heard from some sources there's something going on with the Undine's and a Spriggan!" His eyes practically sparkled at this information.

"A Spriggan?"

"Yup! Apparently, this guy challenged the strongest Undine and actually walked away!"

Leafa gave Recon a deadpanned expression. "You shouldn't believe everything you hear Recon. Everyone knows that Ancient Ruin's are a ghost town. Maybe it's someone just trolling with black dyed armor or something."

"But what if it is true?!"

"Then nothing, if there was actually someone strong enough to talk on the strongest Undine, they'll probably just stay in the south west. Not our problem."

Recon looked disappointed in him. "You're a real buzzkill, anyone ever tell you that?"

"Yes. Now come on, Sigurd's probably ichin' to do some killing." Leafa said, stretching his arms.

Recon stood from where he was sitting, following the female looking avatar with a discontented expression. "That is you. You are the one who likes killing."

Leafa smirked, "Ya, I know."

I'm bacCCKKKKKK

With plot. and Twists.

Shouhei is going to be alot of fun to write about.

Things to Note

- Kirito is still alive yayyyyy

-I am intentionally avoiding using her real name, because reasons

- Definitely adding a new character next chapter

- There is going to be alot of plot contrivance, please bare with me

- Recon is not going to be weirdo. He's just a normal sassy kid.

-Sugou is going to be a legit threat, he has contracts now.

- Mama Kazegaya is a very nice lady. Just laying that down, but her son does not always agree with her decisions. Also apparently she does have a husband? There will be no father in the picture (mostly because his dude appears nowhere anywhere)

-Also many sorries, but the rest of the SAO cast will not be major players in this plot. (Sorry Asuto) But they will have cameos.