May 18th, 2025, Joshua

"How about now?" I walk out of my bathroom and stunt to give Kotone sight of my outfit...excuse me, my sixth outfit. I don't know why she had me change my shirt and tie (this time, red and black respectively) so many times, but I'm at the point that I actually am starting to not give a damn. Kotone might know what a good-looking item in a game is, but I don't if she knows anything about men. Then again...remembering what she said privately to me last night, she might.

The blonde arcs her head back and forth while staring me down, then glances at her phone. She takes a picture before dropping the device back on the bed. "You know, I think this is perfect. Red and black… It's so...you."

"Hmm, I guess so. Does Nijika agrees?"

Kotone glances at the phone, nodding momentarily. "Yeah, she does. Guess you're good." Sighing, I walk over to the bed and sit beside her. As I scratch my neck, Kotone has her eyes still set on me. When I move my eyes to her, her face turns slightly pink. "Hey, Joshua…"

"Hm?"

"You know… We've been partners for a long time, right?"

"Yeah, we have, ever since we went on our first treasure hunt. Still partners in the real world and ALO, I believe so."

"So...is it impossible to ask for one of these...dates? I mean, as friends, of course!"

I smile and pat her on the shoulder. I know very well she probably doesn't mean that last part, but only said it out of safety for our relationship. He has no problem with it either, but it can't be anything this extravagant, at least not alone. "Sure, we can always go out together, but you know, nothing like this unless… How about when Nijika comes into town and has time, we can go to the restaurant I'm taking Rika."

Kotone smiles and looks at her phone. "You got thirty minutes to get to Rika's place. Knowing her punctuality, she's probably waiting on you."

I chuckle as I get up. "I'm surprised she hasn't bothered me yet. Maybe she isn't ready yet."

Rika

"Keiko, Asuna, I'm freaking out!" Rika covers her face as the two girls on her computer screen watch their friend in pure distress. It's twenty minutes until Joshua's supposed arrival time, and now she gets pre-date jitters. "I have made a mistake!"

"What?" Asuna says, "No you haven't! You clearly like Joshua."

"No, not that. It's...about what I said yesterday. I...might have jumped the gun in our relationship."

"Oh."

"You mean skipping all the awkwardness and straight to seriousness?" Keiko shakes her head in shame. "Bad Rika. Even Asuna and Kazuto didn't do that."

"She kinda has a point. Even though we were married in SAO, technically we were dating there as we are here."

"I don't wanna hear that," Rika stands up and looks at a full-body mirror. She wears a red strapless dress, with a red bow tied at the waist and red heels to match. If her pride got the better of her, she considers herself to be drop-dead gorgeous. Joshua might lose all blood out his nose upon sight. Yet, she still feels down. Yesterday's conversation about them jumping into a serious relationship now crosses her mind. How stupid was she to suggest a thing? Sure, Joshua has been quiet about it, but she's sure a part of him is freaking out. Sighing, she turns back to the desk, looking at the mirror and her friends. "I think I need to focus on the positive. It's my birthday, we girls had fun earlier. I'm going on a third date with a great guy. I look beautiful. I'm going out with a great guy, who likes me despite how stupid I sounded yesterday. I can make this work. I have to."

"Why do you have to?" Asuna questions.

Keiko places her head in her hands and looks to the side with a scowl. "So we can have two couples in our friend group. Great."

"That's great. Maybe we can go on double dates sometimes, Lis! Though I must admit, Joshua might be more willing to dote on you than Kazuto would me. That jerk…"

Rika nods as she finishes applying lipstick. "Maybe next weekend. Or no, we gotta get ahead of the summer crowd. We should get the girls and buy swimwear. Let the boys have an opinion."

Keiko blushes profusely. "Ka-Kazuto and Jo-Joshua? I-I-I don't know…"

"Fine with me," Asuna says. "A long shopping trip at the mall, make them carry our bags, it's a girl's dream."

And I get to give Joshua a little reminder of how good I look in swimwear and Kazuto a show of what he traded up dating that stick, Rika thinks to herself with a devious smile. Yes, she's doing it more for her boyfriend than her friend's boyfriend, but no harm in showing him the goods too. It's settled. As she gives her makeup a final look, her phone buzzes. Joshua is here, with ten minutes to spare. She loves punctuality. "Girls, my hero has arrived. Any last pieces of advice and encouragement?"

"He likes you, you like him. Just be comfortable and do what kept you two together for years."

"Uhh...what Asuna said. And details later! Have a great birthday dinner!"

Rika smiles. "I'll think about it, Keiko. Goodbye!" She shuts her computer off and grabs her phone and purse. She rushes out the house in excitement and nervousness, heading outside to see Joshua standing outside his car. She should have expected he'll wear his familiar colors, even with a black suit. The colors do suit him, though, she knows that best. "Hey," she says as she stops in front of him.

He smiles then walks around to the driver side of the car. "Hey, happy birthday. You ready?"

Rika frowns and puts her hands on her waist. "Hey, you idiot! Aren't you gonna compliment me? You should tell a girl how good she looks!" Joshua laughs and enters the car anyway. He's doing this purposely. God, she hates that she likes it anyway. Sighing, she enters the car (the doors open and close automatically, how cool) and stares him down as they drive off. Part of her still wants the opinion.

"You can't stop staring at me. I know I'm handsome today, but thanks for confirming."

"Dumbass."

"But you're beyond beautiful. I'm surprised, to be honest. You looked great last year."

"Yeah, well, Sword Art Online's makeup is less work that real life's. Besides, I was actually trying this time."

"Oh, so that explains the dress. Very cute yet very seductive."

Rika chuckles as she faces the side window. "Oh, Joshua, you just don't know. We girls may have gotten a little overzealous in our shopping efforts. Let's just say this is the nicest of the options."

That shut him up for most of the ride.

Joshua

I can sense something is wrong with Rika as we sit at our table and wait for our orders. She hasn't touched much of the small bowl of soup in front of her, and knowing her gluttonous ways from the game world (almost rivaling mine and Kirito) I know she is not okay. Is it me? She was happy until we got here, so I don't know what it is or what I've done. "Hey, Rika?"

She looks up, but her facial expression doesn't change. "Hmm?"

"Is everything okay?"

She realizes I noticed and straightens up. "Oh, oh, yes, yes! I'm fine! H-How about you?" I frown and cross my arms, causing her to sigh. "Fine...no I'm not. I feel bad."

Is that so? "About?"

"Well, yesterday I said that I wanted to quickly all the awkwardness of dating and be past Asuna and Kazuto, but now I realize how stupid that sounds. I don't even know what that means because...well, you're my first boyfriend ever. I never been on dates before you, had anyone like me like this before, definitely not someone as rich as you for sure. And while that wasn't really physical, you're the first boy I kissed. I don't know what serious dating is in real life. Asuna and Keiko were no help, they told me to be as I am when we were just friends."

I never figured I was her first boyfriend or that she was particularly inexperienced in the subject of romance. Even in SAO one could still learn things. Setting my silverware down, I begin my own monologue. "Back home in America, I had many girls like me, probably even a few guys too. I was rich, but I went to public school. Naturally, I grew up with many people who were middle-class or less and saw me for what I was born into. Of course, I made many real friends who liked me for who I am. But there was one girl I actually dated for a while. Now mind you, we were fourteen, fifteen, so we couldn't do much as me and you as eighteen-year-olds can. But we never got serious because we really didn't know what that was, but we made the best of our time. We broke up because of my move, actually."

Rika listens with great interest. "You don't talk much about life in America."

"Eh, we are as fat as you think we are. Nothing special at all. But it was excellent for the most part, until my childhood friend moved to Japan about five years ago. I don't recall which part of the country though. I do miss home, though, but I guess Japan isn't bad, considering how comfy the hospital beds are."

"Agreed."

"But back to the main point, Rika, they're right. Sure, there are many differences between a friendship and dating, but there's a reason we can skip all the beginning stuff and do things like this. If I was dating someone else, unless I was desperate, their first date would not be to a four star restaurant. Probably a crepe restaurant. But because I was desperate, but more importantly, because we've been friends for years, we can pass the pleasantries. We know each other well, heck, probably too well if we're going to be honest. You can hold hands like we are now without wondering if my hands were sweating five minutes ago. I can stare at you without trying to look at that orange spot on the side of your face...actually get it off."

Rika frowns as she picks up a napkin and wipes her mouth. "Okay, so they are right. If anything, just think of us as in a higher level of friendship, but with romance?"

"That's one way to see it from now on. Don't worry, we'll get the hang of it."

Rika nods. "I see. But can I add one thing?"

"Yes."

She holds her head high. "We're going to need rules. These are negotiable, of course, but it is needed without question and apply to both the real and virtual worlds."

"...Okay. What rules?"

"Number one, we keep all lovey-dovey crap to ourselves. The most PDA acceptable is a kiss on the forehead or cheek. Hugs, hand holding, and arm locking are included, but that bullshit Asuna and Kazuto did last night...unacceptable."

I cringe at the more memory of when Asuna, Kirito, and I were telling the gang in ALO a story of an adventure after the two were married, and in the middle of it...just them complimenting each other was enough to ruin the mood. Philia and Rain (who heard it from me after it originally happened) had to finish the tale because I was too disgusted to do so and the lovebirds were forbidden to speak. "I accept that without question."

"Rule number two...we can't stop each other from being with our other friends without acceptable reason from both parties. I say that to protect you because, well, you're bound to attract a crowd like Kirito has. And because I know there'll be times I will be with him without others. So as I know you trust me, I'll trust you."

I nod. "Fair, but to add to that, we cannot go to any of our places. So here, the crepe restaurant, and anywhere else we want to keep to ourselves, those are sacred to Rika and Joshua. Got it?"

She smiles. "Got it. Last rule. You have to go with me on shopping trips at least once a season."

I raise my eyebrow. "Is this group trips or just Rika trips, because if it's just you, I'll go anyway, but groups? I don't know."

"Yes, it pertains to group trips. Don't worry, Kazuto will be there to mope with you. First time is next weekend, we're going swimsuit shopping."

I fold my lips to keep my jaw from dropping as our server brings our meal. Once she leaves, I stare at my food. "Uh...why are we boys going? Please don't say 'your opinion matters', I don't want to suffer this again and I'm sure Kazuto feels the same."

Rika smiles. "So what you're saying is that you did not enjoy seeing me try on various swimsuits last year and ask your opinion?"

I really toed the line because pervert and willing viewer last time, and it was hard to think with my brain then. But that was just one girl. If Kazuto is coming, I'm sure Asuna is joining. If I know Rika, Keiko is tagging along. If fate is unkind, Suguha and Kotone too. "I… That question is a double-edged sword, Rika. But fine. I accept that rule, but in exchange, you have to go to four things I find or have interest in."

"Like what?"

"One if them is this charity event RoboTelligence is part of later in the year. If we're dating then, you're my guest. The other three will come."

"Sure."

"Also another rule, before you even try...don't touch my food."

Rika grabs her chopsticks and takes a piece of pork from my rice bowl, stuffing it in her mouth before I can react. As giggles after she swallows. "What is yours is mine, but is mine is not necessarily yours. Did you not know that in America?"

I sigh as I begin to eat. "We probably invented it."

May 19th, 2025

Keiko, Asuna, Kotone, and Rika are first to our lunch table as us boys join them. Keiko is first to notice us as I take the seat between Kotone and Rika, Kazuto between her and Asuna. "Our two favorite guys in the world. How are you?"

"Same as always," Kazuto says as he indulges in his sandwich.

"Eh, another school day with our favorite women in the world. Oh, and Asuna." Asuna glares at me and flicks a large crumb at my face. Her accuracy has not stayed in the game world. "Hey!"

"You ass. Anyway, us girls were just talking about how nice your date was. Good going, Joshua. Maybe give your best friend some pointers."

"What for? He helped."

"Huh?" All the girls look at Kazuto, who drinks his drink as if he doesn't notices.

"When that Kikoua guy wanted to talk to me, he took me to some fancy place. It's pretty good, but pricey for me. But for someone who doesn't have such limitations, it's a perfect place for a date. I told Joshua about it when he asked me about places. You're welcome, buddy." We do our secret handshake as the girls continue to stare in surprise. Double hand slap, fist bump, fist to chest, elbow bump, finger kiss and brush along the hairline. Classic.

Kotone gags after we finish. "Ugh, bromance. Get a closet together."

"Let them have it," Rika deviously states. "They'll need it this weekend, hehehe."