Man, you guys really like this story, huh?

As a side note, a review is always nice when it comes to stories like this, so consider leaving one! Preferably on the specific side.

On a side note, I think I figured out how tone works!

"Ah." Asuna rested her cup onto the table. "That was a nice meal."

"It was." Suguha nodded in agreement. "Now, where were we?"

"Fighting I think?" said Yuuki.

"Oh right!" Rika chuckled and started reaching for her weapon. Yui started backing into the hallway.

The tension in the air began to rise before Klein checked his watch.

"Gah! School starts in ten minutes!"

"WHAT?"

Sinon and Yuuki logged out, as everyone scrambled to gather their things and hurry out the door. School was only a few blocks away, but they still had to run.

A few seconds before the bell rang, all eight of them burst into their classes.

The day brought it's usual challenges, classes, studies, and exams. Nothing particular eventful, just what you'd expect from a day at school. During lunch, however…

Asuna and Kazuto just so happened to end up at the same lunch table.

"Oh, it's you again," he said.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing…" he slurped his noodles. "So, you guys want to combine the virtual and real worlds to create a perfect virtual utopia?"

"Yeah, basically. And you guys want to keep this world from being burned to smithereens and buried under a dystopian society?"

"Yeah, basically," said Kazuto. He thought back on their encounters. "Sorry I called your sister a random chuunibyou."

"It's fine. I'm sorry I tried to force myself on you."

"I thought your other side was a different personality? That's kind of how it works with us as well." Kazuto chuckled. "You know, Suguha and Leafa sometimes fight about whether or not to hook up with me,"

"Aren't you two related?" Asuna tilted her head slightly. Kazuto winced slightly from how cute it made her look.

"Yes… we kind of have a pretty weird relationship though."

"Oh…" Asuna blushed. "I never took you for that type…"

"No, not like that! She has a crush on me, not quite sure how that happened. I mean, I'm not exactly an attractive guy."

"What are you talking about?" said Asuna. "You're pretty attractive."

"Huh?"

"I mean…" Asuna blushed even deeper and looked away. "I didn't mean that as a compliment! I just meant… you know, you've got cool hair, a cute face, good grades, a kind smile… you're at least a B tier on an attractive tier list."

"Uh… thanks?"

"I said that wasn't a compliment!"

Suguha watched the two of them with glaring eyes from a distant table.

"That hussy! I'll slit her throat in her sleep!" She said to herself before covering her mouth in terror. "Yeesh, I'm going crazy! I need to get my head straight. And get my other personality to stop making goo-goo eyes over my brother!"

I'm not the one making goo-goo eyes.

Suguha yelped when she heard Leafa's voice echo through her head.

"Gah! Now you're in my thoughts?"

Of course I am. And, I'm not the one spying on your brother right now.

"This is different! I need to get him away from Asuna!"

Well you could confess to him…

"What? No way!"

You could kill her.

"That's even worse!"

You could trick them into…

"Okay, enough with the underhanded tactics!" Suguha yelled. People started staring at her.

"Eep…" she shrank underneath the table.

"Amazing!" Yui said from inside Suguha's pocket. "Not only has the transformation created a second personality, but both personalities can exist within the same mind at the same time! I have to make a note of this!"

"Quiet Yui! I'm having a serious problem right now!"

Yui dejectedly frowned and shrank back into Suguha's pocket.

'Ugh, who am I kidding? Sorry, Yui. I'm just having a rough time right now."

The pixie sighed.

"It's fine. I'm still learning more about human emotions."

Suguha couldn't help but smile.

"You know, you could pass for a human pretty easily."

"Aw, thanks! But I still have a ways to go. Especially when it comes to things like relationships."

After school.

The eight of them left the school building early as they could.

"I have to admit," said Sinon. "You're definitely one of the most serious gamers I've ever met, Kazuto."

"Well, I don't really think of it like that."

"What about that time that you spent an entire week playing games and wouldn't interact with anyone?" said Suguha.

"Hey… don't tell anybody!" he blushed slightly.

"You're both really good sword fighters!" said Yui. "Can you teach me to fight like you guys do?"

"Sure, I don't mind giving you a longsword lesson or two." said Suguha.

"Please, gunlance is the way to go," Asuna chimed in.

"No, no, dual blades are the superior weapon," Kirito added.

"Hammer," said Rika.

"Insect Glaive," said Keiko.

"Sword and Shield," said Klein.

"Charge Blade," said Yuuki

"What about Bow?" said Sinon. "That's much more useful."

"Hey… aren't we forgetting something?" said Silica.

"What are you talking about?" said Yuuki.

"Weren't we supposed to be fighting over competing ideologies?"

"Oh yeah, that." Asuna shrugged. "I guess it's not really that important if you think about it."

"It's like you said, nee-chan," said Yuuki. "Fantasy battles are nice, but using magic for the good of your friends is way better!"

"Seriously, you guys think so?" said Sinon. "Though, to be fair, I never really got a chance to live a normal life…"

"If I recall correctly, we only accepted this job because we thought we'd have more friends if the world was part-virtual," said Yuuki.

"But, we've got everything we need right here!" said Yui. "Friends, cool powers, a fun school life. Who'd wanna change anything?"

"Well, we still have to defeat Kayaba." Klein pointed out.

"Who?" said Keiko.

Meanwhile, in the Ruby Palace.

"They were captured?!" Kayaba yelled. Kuradeel and Rosalia inched away.

"Erm… I'm sure they'll be able to escape, my lord," said Kuradeel. "They've put a lot of work into their training…"

"Enough with that! I've got something that'll take out those teenagers for good!"

Kayaba flicked his hand. Someone walked into the front of the throne room.

"Lord Kayaba," she said.

"We've exhausted every resource to get rid of these meddling teens! You're going to finish the job, and I want it done right!"

"Yes, lord Kayaba."

"You have an advantage over them. Don't forget that."

"Yes, lord Kayaba.

"Good, now go!"

She walked out of the throne room.

"Will she really be able to defeat them?" said Rosalia.

"Of course! The best way to defeat a sentient AI is with another sentient AI!"