The next morning...

"Are you sure this looks fine? I feel lazy. I can change into something more dressy." Rika looks at her clothes and asks me that for the fifth time in the thirty minutes she's been at my house. At this point, it's getting a little annoying. I look over to her, looking down from her white button-down shirt to her black leggings and red high-top shoes. Compared to me, wearing a blue polo shirt and black jeans, yeah, she's fine.

"You're fine, Rika."

"How are you so comfortable in that?"

"It's my parents and grandparents, that's how. Have you not known me long enough to know how laid-back I am? They're the same outside of work."

"Ugh, okay fine." She walks over to the kitchen table, taking a seat beside me on a stool and propping her elbows up. "I get that I'm probably going crazy, but I want them to like me. Mine like you, but that was easy. You protected their daughter from the death game. Add in your real life, who wouldn't want their daughter paired with an heir to a entire company? But on the flip side, I have to prove I'm not some gold-digging bitch."

"Well, you're not a gold digger."

Rika scowls. "Ha, ha. You know what I mean."

"I do. And if they do, so what? It's not like we're getting married soon. I don't have a position in the company. It really doesn't matter now."

"Okay, but what about ten years from now? Today could impact that?"

She's thought that far? Wow. "You think we'll be together in ten year's time? We've only been dating for about three months, plus whatever last year was between us. That's our romance, Lis."

She sighs as she takes a hand of mine. "I know, but… I like to dream of the future. SAO could've taken it from at any moment. So yes, I dream of a future in ten year's time with you. We'd traveled to your home in America and other places, seeing all the sights I've dreamed of, taste all the sweets…you know, all that. Of course, that's after university and stuff."

"You've really thought all this out, but who is gonna stay with Keiko. I mean, I have no problem with sightseeing and eating with her, but...there's parts of traveling she can't be included in, if you catch my drift."

"Ah. Well, there's Suguha, maybe they'll become friends. Maybe donate some breasts to poor Keiko."

I drop my jaw. "Wow, you're wrong for that, after all that teasing you did to them both."

"Hehe, well, be honest. Forget that I'm your girlfriend and Kazuto is your best friend, would you think Suguha is pretty hot, especially with those things?"

"Yes. Oh yes." Rika doesn't look happy with my immediate response, but it isn't like I needed much time. "What? I seen her almost everyday for three months. Those things have been literally visible to me all summer, and her avatar doesn't make it easy to forget. Yesterday did not help."

"But if I ask you about Asuna, Kotone, or Nijika…"

I raise my hands up in defense. "Good boobs are good boobs. Everyone we know except Keiko just happen to have acceptable sizes. Strea is pushing it, though. But I didn't choose you because of yours, I'm not superficial like that."

Rika rolls her eyes, then smiles. "Well, I'm never asking you this again, you're exceptionally honest."

I nod. "That's why we men never tell the truth on female appearance, you will never like it."

"But what is one thing I have that Suguha don't that you are attracted to?"

"Your personality is much better. I like your fiesty, teasing ways. It matches my own sarcastic behavior, and you're not afraid to snap back and attempt to put me in my place. She's...not that way, from what I've seen."

Rika nods. "I see...although you're learning how to tease from the best. Yesterday's was good. But now I'm curious, what did you mean you would 'show you how it feels?'"

I smirk as the doorbell rings, leaving that question for another private conversation. While Rika waits in the kitchen, I open the front door, welcoming the four casually dressed people outside. "Hello, everyone."

The oldest of the two women steps up first, kissing me on my cheek. "My boy, all big and grown now! Too big to visit his dear grandmother, aren't you?"

"Um…"

My grandfather, the founder of RoboTelligence, pushes her inside. "Oh, don't listen to her. You're doing well for yourself here."

"Thanks Grandpa… Mom, Dad." While my mom hugs me, my dad ruffles my short hair, knowing how much I hated that since I was a kid. Now that I'm slightly taller than him (and he and my grandpa are tall for Japanese men), he does it to annoy me. While I straighten my hair again, I lead them away from the door to the junction between the kitchen and living room. I take my grandparents' bags. "You guys sit right in here, Dad and I will take the luggage upstairs."

Grandma waves me off as she goes to sit in the living room. "Yeah, but where's the girlfriend? I want to met the girl who my grandson talks about a lot."

I look to the kitchen, Rika somehow being elusive. Gesturing her to come over, she nervously does so as the four extra pair of eyes set on her. "This is her, Rika Shinozaki. Or, as you know her by her username, Lisbeth. Either name is acceptable." I leave Rika to the hounds as my dad and I carry their luggage to the spare rooms upstairs. I direct him towards the door at the right end of the hallway as I select the middle room for my grandparents since it's closest to the restroom. Of all the rooms I could from, either the biggest or the one closest to the toilet, but I chose the smallest room with the smallest bed because I'm here at night mostly by myself. For some reason, lately Rika and Keiko think it's okay to pop in nearly everyday, and I'm sure if Kotone and Nijika didn't have their jobs, they'll be here often. Good thing I enjoy their company.

After setting my folks stuff in the room, I meet my dad outside my parent's guest room. He looks at the walls as if there's something wrong with them. "Where have I gone wrong with you? I would have ruined this place at your age. Guess you're Natalie's child. So serious."

I smile. "I made a whale pun yesterday while the gang and I rode on the back of one. I got that from you, Suzaki. And the hair ruffling, I'm doing that now. Ugh."

My dad chuckles. "Yeah, it is better to give than to receive."

"Anyway, how's the company?"

"Going good. Actually in the works on two new research projects with Full-Dive technology. Can't speak on them yet, but once I can, I actually want you to be our representative. You have the experience, plus I hear one is supposed to be a VR game anyway. Your friends can join that of their own volition… Though it might take some convincing."

I raise an eyebrow. "How so?"

He waves the question off. "You'll know very soon when the game is closer to release. Then we'll talk about your role… Anyway, let's return. I hope Mom is not driving away your girlfriend as she could have your mother."

I smile. "Oh, if anything, Rika kinda deserves a taste of her own medicine."

Turns out Rika gained the affections of my family just by talking about me doing stupid stuff in real life, SAO, and ALO. Considering how much of SAO I left out (do I want to tell that I killed a virtual rapist?) I am surprised Rika was able to tell stories without getting into the more personal ones. She strayed from Koharu and Laughing Coffin, which opens the door to a ton of stuff I've forgotten.

Lisbeth's quest on the 22th Floor, for example. It was the aftermath of the 25th Floor, the first time Koharu and I took a break from the frontlines and split up, and my first time with Lisbeth alone. It'll be a few more months before the seeds of our close relationship are planted, but we were good friends at the time. She wanted to get her hands on a rare material, so we ventured to the swampy forests in search of the monster that spawns it. Long story short, we succeed, but my takeaway from the quest was an embarrassing status effect of funkiness. Damn beast spit on me and I smelled like shit for hours.

Later that year, Silica joined us around Halloween on the 39th. Koharu spent the holiday with Asuna for some girl thing, Kirito and Klein were M.I.A., Philia and company were already on a spooky treasure hunt, so I tagged along with the Blacksmith and Beast Tamer. Lisbeth had this "amazing" idea for me and her to switch roles as our Halloween costume, and I lost the bet to go against it. So imagine me, the Crimson Warrior, a respected player in Sword Art Online, in Lisbeth's outfit.

Just because the ethics code hides the parts doesn't mean I can't feel the discomfort.

"Where are all the "saved your life" stories at?" I say in a disgruntled manner.

Rika shrugs. "Everyone knows that, plus they're not one bit exciting. Not even the ALO ones. And didn't I save you yesterday?"

Not just me, but Kirito as well. We have really slacked in our awareness since we've started ALO, not that we'll admit it. "Whatever. I was caught off guard, okay?"

"It seems you owe this young lady as much as she owes you, grandson," Grandpa says with a hoarse chuckle. "There's nothing wrong with that. Our family has had many strong men, and each had a strong woman. No matter what world you're in, the business world, the school world, the virtual world, surrounding yourself with individuals who look after you is important. The wisdom my father passed to me and what I passed to your father goes to you, and always take it to heart: 'All relationships are like running a business. Not all business is good, not all are bad. If you recognize the good ones and the bad, you will always act accordingly in life.'"

Mom nods. "Whatever happened in those two years changed you. When you came here, you were quite unhappy, but look at you. You have friends, a girlfriend, and actual interest in the family business, but most importantly, you are smiling again. I never thought I'll see you so happy again after Momji left America five years ago."

I lower my jaw a bit. "Have you seen her?"

"We ran into her family recently," Dad says. "Her sister is doing well for herself, as expected. Anyway, you should reconnect with her, maybe even meet up. She lives in Kyoto, though, so someone will have to travel."

"I'll think about it." I lower my gaze to my lap. Momiji Takamine… I haven't thought of her much except in passing. I spoke a bit about her yesterday, as she's the close childhood friend I had when I was younger. We're both in Japan, it wouldn't hurt to reconnect, but it has been so long. If I've changed in my mother's eyes in two years, could Momiji have changed in five?

Grandpa looks at his watch. "Oh, look at the time, our lunch reservation is coming up. Rika, I hope you have a taste for somewhat expensive food and drink."

As everyone gets up for food, Rika's mouth almost pools out drool. "Yes sir!"

"Ha ha, very well. Joshua, you know the place, we'll meet you there." Nodding, I watch as my people leave then go to grab my own keys. However, I find Lisbeth already holding a set of keys, the ones to my motorcycle.

"How expensive is 'somewhat expensive' to your family?"

I roll my eyes as I catch the keys she tosses. "It's not expensive at all. Asuna and I ate there earlier in the month without forking over a lot." Rika gives me a weird look as I lock the door and follow here to the motorcycle. "What?"

"That's...weird. You and Asuna hanging out together alone in the real world is just...unnatural. Elsewhere is fine, but not in this world."

"Is it because we are always messing with each other?"

"I don't see how you can act civil without supervision."

"Ah. Keep that in mind if I ever leave you alone with Suguha."

Lisbeth

The rest of the day went by smoothly for Lisbeth. While nervous at first, she managed to not look like an idiot in front of Joshua's family. As he stated, lunch was not totally expensive, and neither was dinner later on. As Joshua warned, seafood was on the menu, but she indulged nonetheless. Free food takes the mind off of any prior worries.

Later that night, the family is doing their own thing. Grandma is watching some television, Grandpa and Mr. Hardin are discussing something out at the backyard, and she has no clue where Mrs. Hardin is. Rika sits back at the kitchen counter, texting the girls (Asuna, Kotone, and Keiko) about today while drinking a cup of juice.

"Rika." Rikas raise her head up as Joshua's mother approaches the counter, taking a seat beside me. Seeing her picture was one thing, but seeing her beauty in person, Rika can't help but be mesmerized. "Enjoying yourself?"

"Uh, oh, yes. I had a great day."

Ms. Hardin nods as she turns towards the living room. "I understand how you feel. You're dating into a wealthy family, so you expect some scrutiny from the parents of your boyfriend. In my case, I'm also a different race and nationality, so I expected triple. But when I first met Suzaki's parents, they welcomed me with open arms. I didn't know why until his mom explained it to me. It's something you don't understand unless you have a son who left you one way and returns to you as a better version of himself. His father was smart, but he had a playboy streak. However, he prided his smarts more than the amount of women around him, so when he gained an inkling of competition from me, he had to be better. I found it foolish, but it matured him into the man he is now and the man I love."

Rika lowers her head. "If Joshua has changed, it wasn't me. There was another, someone he was with for the majority of the game. She's responsible for it."

"Where is this girl then?"

"She… She died. All I did afterwards was pick him up, gave him a place to call home, and managed his equipment."

Mrs. Hardin takes a sip of her drink, eyeing Rika from the corner of her eyes. "I said the same thing, that I didn't change their son. But like I said, you wouldn't see it because you don't understand. That's fine, but trust me, I believe you had some effect on him. He didn't save your life because you were another person, but because he cared immensely for you. He didn't want to lose another friend, but I also think he didn't want to lose the only thing tangible to his sense of self. I don't know what he went through, but I expect in a game of life and death, the only that keeps you alive is something or someone worth living for. So even if you don't believe you changed his life, know that he is alive because of you. He knows that, and that's why he loves you." Mrs. Hardin stands up and pats Rika's shoulder before heading to join her mother-in-law. Rika sits in place, rubbing her thumbs together.

All this time, she considered his promise to Koharu that was his reason to live. Joshua took that promise to heart, nearly died many times on it. Thinking she is the actual reason he lives seems selfish of Rika, but nothing reiterates that fact than when he found about Annihilator. He trained her to defend herself, set up alternative measures to keep herself alive, something he did not do with anyone else. When Annihilator came and had her at his whim, he came as he said he would.

"When you said what you said, I must admit, you were not the thing I cared about most in that moment. What topped you was Koharu and my promise to her. If he had...if I didn't make it, I would have failed to protect you as I promised her."

"As much credit I'd like to take, I only showed him what it takes to protect others; Asuna was the catalyst for him as Lisbeth, Silica, and others were for me. I'm sure the opposite is the same. We had people to protect, whether they were by our side or elsewhere."

Maybe…both ideas are right. Koharu and Rika changed Joshua, not one or the other. Settling with that, she turns to see Joshua enter from the back door. She smiles as he heads her way and takes a seat. "Hi."

"Hey. What's up?"

"Your mom just told me something important, that's all… She also agrees with me, boobs are not just boobs."

"Wait, what?" Stunned by her lie, Rika giggles and leans over, kissing him on the cheek. As she continues to lean on his shoulder, she smiles to herself. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Everything."