August 1st, Joshua

"Asuna?" I open my front door, letting the long-haired brunette inside my house. It's close to 9 pm, and while we were a few minutes away from each other, she doesn't really show up unexpectedly like this. "Not that I'm not against you being here, but...why?"

"I need to talk to you, but without Kazuto or Rika around."

"Oh." Closing the door, we walk into my kitchen. Asuna take a seat while I head to the refrigerator, taking out a root beer for me and a strawberry soda for Asuna. I slide the strawberry to Asuna and take my seat on the other side of the counter table. "Alright. What is it? Something with you and K-dude, as impossible as that sounds."

Asuna shakes her head. "No, just the other relationship."

"Me and Lisbeth?" This is quite the surprise. Earlier, she said everything was okay. I'm not surprised she said something to Asuna, but I decided to keep our issues between us. "That's news to me."

Asuna holds her hands out. "Oh no, I mean I don't know if there's anything between you two, but… I've noticed an outside factor today. It's ironic to hear me say that, given the attention of other girls Kazuto attracts, but like him, you are loyal to Lisbeth to a fault. However, I know you aren't as dense."

I take a sip of my drink and sigh. "Since I know Strea is not a problem between us, you must speak of Kotone."

Asuna nods. "Yes. I can't speak for Lisbeth, but I definitely noticed some animosity coming from Philia. Since you're the common denominator, I guess it's easy to figure it out. But I see you're well aware of this."

"Yeah. Kotone has liked me probably since the first moment she saw me. I didn't know until the morning before we fought Heathcliff. I get that I can't tell her to change how she feels, and I can't tell her to be friendly with Rika, but for so long she kept her distance from Rika and played along with the fact I'm with her that I haven't thought she might dislike Rika very much."

"Well, this was the first time they were together without you, so she didn't have to fully hide her feelings. But you're right, you can't do anything about it… Did Philia ever have a shot?"

"Yeah. She had many, but you know, there was Koharu and then there was Rika. Considering how many times we were alone back in SAO and before school started in the spring, I guess there was no right time, and when it came...she told Lis to stop waiting. I don't think she hates Lisbeth, I think she regrets letting her win." I sigh, rubbing my forehead. "This is too much to think about, but it's better than being blindsided tomorrow. Thanks, Asuna. I might owe you one."

Asuna cheerfully smiles. "You can treat me to that restaurant again...or maybe that quest I've been asking you to go on with me."

"Why don't you ask Kazuto?"

"Because we always go on quests together, but you and I don't. So…"

"...I'll think about it."

The next morning

"The feelings I kept deep inside are now screaming at the top of their lungs. trying to voice our now infinite vow." I sit outside in my car outside of Lisbeth's house, singing the latest single released by Rain, "Innocence". After the hit release of "Crossing Fields" in February, her career as an idol has gone on a hot start. Her first album, if I recall her telling me, should be out this fall. I can't help but be proud of my friend's accomplishments since leaving SAO, she has succeeded in her dream. Her talent is comparable to another idol, a younger girl named Seven in ALO.

"Hey, hey!" Rika enters the car full of happiness. I smile as she buckles up and sits comfortably in the car. "Oh, is this the new song? I listened to it way too much last night before I went to be. Rain is so talented!"

"You're so excited," I say as I drive off. "You have too much coffee?"

"Not at all. I'm just happy to be spending time with you, Kazuto, and Asuna. Just the four of us in the real world."

"Uh huh."

"You know, I don't think the four of us hung out since the time we went to the hot springs in SAO. Well, of course you two weren't with us, per se, but you get the idea. Why? Is there no reason to be excited?"

I shrug. "I mean, I thought you wanted to talk about Kotone." I turn to Lisbeth, her face quite surprised that I know about it. "Asuna told me, if you must know."

She scoffs and looks out the window. "I don't get you two at all… But yes, it is her. I don't get it. Have I done anything to her I don't know about?"

"You're my girlfriend, that's all."

"But what does… Oh. Well, that explains a lot. But she didn't act like this before. During school, she would sit with us and talk, she's friendly when we hang out, and we've gone on quests together in ALO."

"Yeah, but I was there all the time. I mean, you never went on a quest with just me and her. So, I guess without me there, she let her true feelings slip a bit. But what can you or I do about it, she has the right to express jealousy. I seem to remember someone doing just that before we started dating."

"Hmph… Hey, Joshua. If we weren't dating, would you date her?" I turn to her, looking to see if this is a trap or an honest question. She understands my expression as she smiles. "Serious question."

"Most likely I would give her a shot. Kazuto told me himself that he thinks Kotone and I would work together very well."

"Oh, did he? What does he say about me and you?"

I chuckle. "Oh, I'm not going to betray my bro. I think he suffered enough embarrassment yesterday from me."

"What did you even do?"

"You know how the May update that brought Aincrad and the sword skills to ALO? Well, yesterday, we tried using the game's Original Sword Skill creator to recreate our personal sword skills. Kazuto tried it with Starburst Stream, while I worked on Dragon's Fury. I actually managed it, but it was tough."

Lisbeth coos. "Nice. That was your strongest skill in SAO, right? A ten-hit combo, now with the element of fire?"

"Yep. Sadly, Kirito did not recreate Starburst Stream, so he's a little salty that I got my strongest One-Handed Sword Art back." Arriving at Yoyogi Park, I enter the parking lot and almost immediately find a suitable parking spot. Once I turn the car off, I turn to Rika. "Anyway, don't mention anything about that, and don't worry about Kotone. I'm sure she meant no ill will, but she's our friend. It's only natural that she'd be jealous of us, besides me there's Kazuto in our primarily female group… Anyone else I should watch out for?"

She taps her chin. "Maybe Suguha, I think she admires you a lot. After the swimming lessons, I just got that feeling."

I laugh as we exit my car. "Well, that's your fault. Shouldn't have juggled her." Rika sighs as she takes my arm and walks alongside me. I laugh at her downcast expression. "What is it, Lis?"

"...They felt so good…"

"Anyway, so these two decide that the best way to take down the monster was for one person to distract it from the front while another jumps on its back and deals damage to the weak spot, which so happens to be its butt. Amazingly, they succeeded, so I couldn't scold them for such an idiotic plan. But from that moment on, we referred to the troll boss and the tactic used to take it out as 'Floor 46.'"

Kazuto groans at Asuna, who rests on his lap. "That's not even remotely close to the truth, it was all Joshua's idea. It just so happened I was in a good position to enact it. But yes, it worked."

"Always knew you were an ass man, Kazuto." I smile as I play with Rika's hair, something which I think is my favorite way of showing affection to her. I think I really am turning into my old man. It should disgust me, as much as I hate him rubbing my own head, yet… I see the appeal when you're giving it, not receiving. Rika enjoys it, that I know. "But why are you always trying to make us look bad?"

"You have too many good things going for you. I only tell what I was around for, and we were around each other a lot during the beginning and end of the game. But it seems you don't like having me around, Joshua, else you would go on the quest with me."

I sigh. "Fine, we can do the quest. So persistent I do so."

Lisbeth giggles. "What is this quest you're demanding Joshua go on? Kazuto not enough?"

Asuna shakes her head. "No. I just want Joshua's help. As I told him, we don't really do anything together in the virtual world. Either Kirito, Philia, or you steal him, with the occasional robbery committed by Leafa."

Rika nods. "I do come in a package deal with Silica, isn't that right?"

"Yeah. Speaking of Keiko, has she ever finished the summer work?"

"No, she hasn't. I'm making her work through it this week, I want to do some shopping with her. Hey, are you free on Wednesday?"

A day with Rika and Keiko… Well, I have had many days with the pair since school started, so what's another? It ends up being fun anyway, despite how much I despise malls. "Yeah, but only if she finished her homework."

"Alright! I'll bop her on ther little head if she hasn't."

Asuna chuckles. "You and Keiko are like sisters. How did that happen, you didn't know each other well in SAO, did you?"

"We met a few times, thanks to His Crimsoness, but it wasn't until school started that we got close. It helped that we had some things in common. I guess we have become sisterlike, much like our boys have become like brothers." Rika raises a hand to pat my cheek. "Speaking of you, Kirito… I heard you had some choice words about our relationship."

"Rika!"

"Huh? What did I say?"

Rika smiles teasingly as she rises up, staring at the stupefied boy in black. "Well? What do you think? Silence is no longer the answer."

"I have to agree, I want to know too," Asuna says. With both girls looking at him expectantly, he looks to me for a rescue. I only shrug, knowing there's no way I can help him if I wanted to. He groans as he looks to Rika. "Fine. I'll admit, I was unsure at the beginning, but I see now how great you two are together."

"As great as you and Asuna?"

"Uh, yeah, sure? Why not?"

"Lis," I call softly yet firmly while pinching the back of her neck. "Leave the boy alone, stop teasing." She mumbles something to herself as she drops back on my lap. Meanwhile, I resume stroking the teasing beast's hair. "I will apologize for the unnecessary curiosity of our favorite blacksmith."

"It's fine," Asuna says with a smile. "Oh, have you two talked about it?"

"Yes… Joshua says to deal with it, which is okay with me. I don't know, maybe she didn't expect us to make it this long."

I chuckle. "That sounds familiar."

Rika hits my leg. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever. I mean, we're not friends like we are, Asuna, but she's part of the group and Jaymes is a huge pillar of this group. I don't want any conflict between us that could hurt us all, in the real world and the virtual."

"I'll talk to her," I say. "I'll do so tonight. No promises I can smooth things over, but I know her well enough. Anyway, Asuna, we'll do this quest tomorrow?"

"Actually later this month when it releases. The details were just released last week."

"You sure you don't want me to come," Kazuto says. "It doesn't feel right leaving you two alone together. Someone might die."

"No," Asuna laughs, "we'll be fine. Joshua, mark your calendar, it's a date."

Later that night, in ALO

I fold my arms behind my back as I hear the sound of someone landing behind me. I sigh as I take my eyes off the lake to the black-haired Spriggan girl in blue clothing. "Hey. Thanks for coming."

Philia nods as she approaches my side. "Yeah. What's up though?"

"I'm going to be honest with you. Asuna and Lisbeth caught an attitude towards you yesterday towards Lisbeth during the time you all were talking about me. I don't care what was said, but I can't have you angry at Lisbeth for no reason."

Philia steps aside, her gaze towards the lake. She's quiet for a moment, to the point I almost wonder if I hurt her beyond words, but then she finally speaks. "I'll apologize to Lisbeth. You're right, I was wrong to act that way yesterday. It was out of the blue, I didn't mean it. I do want to be Lisbeth's friend more than anything, but… It's just… I wish...it was me instead of her."

"I know. If things had gone differently… I won't ask you to get over your feelings, or to even be friends with Lisbeth. Our relationship doesn't have to connect to mine with her, but it has to coexist. That's all I want, Kotone."

Philia wipes her face and turns to me, struggling to force a smile. "I don't… I don't deserve this. It's better if I just...go away."

"And I lose my partner?" I walk up to her, taking her in my arms, holding her close and dearly. "I can deal with these problems, they were bound to happen, but I can't let you go. I fought and lived just for you as I did for everyone else. You may not have the relationship that you wanted, that Lisbeth has, but Philia, you're just as important to me as she is, and that will never ever change."

Philia raises her arms up to place them on my back. "Thank you."

"Philia." Recognizing the voice, we suddenly part and turn to Lisbeth, also joined by Strea. She chuckles as she watches us try to figure out when they got here.

"Lisbeth, I…"

"No need, Philia. I heard everything." Lisbeth steps forward and takes her arms from behind her. "But I'm actually here for you. Here." She reveals the item as a brand new dagger, though just looking at it I can tell it's stronger than the one Philia currently has.

Philia takes the dagger, surprised that Lisbeth gave it to her. "But how? I didn't commission a new dagger."

"Well, I did it myself. I had some free time earlier in the week and saw the forge recipe for that. I asked Strea to pick up the materials since I know she can keep a secret. We worked on it once I got online today and, well, here it is."

"Lis… Thank you. Thank you so much."

Lisbeth smiles and points at me. "Just make sure to use it to keep this dummy safe. You're his partner, after all. Believe me, if we got one thing in common, it's jealousy. I may have him in the real world, but here… He's all yours. I think that's how it's meant to be, and I wouldn't have it any other way." Lisbeth holds her hand out towards Philia. "Friends?"

Philia looks to me first, then at Lisbeth as she takes her hand. "Friends...but only if you go shopping with me this week."

"Oh, I was going anyway. But Silica...ah, who am I kidding, we'd never go if we wait on her."

Standing by Strea, I chuckle then face Strea. "Thank you for helping them both. I owe you one."

Strea shakes her head as she places her head on my shoulder. "Anything for my friends to be happy."

"Great. Now can you find out about this quest Asuna wants to go on with me? I need to know if I'll live afterwards…"

As I prepare to go to sleep, I check my phone for any text messages I'd miss while on Alfheim Online. One from Keiko, asking me for help on the summer work tomorrow. Heh, about time. There's another from Rain, asking me if I listened to her new single. Yes, I did. And a third...an unknown number. I open the message, wondering if it's worth replying, and if it is, who it is.

It's a bombshell of a message.

Hey Joshua… it's Momiji Takamine, your old friend.