Asuna and Kirito had originally meant to only explain the nature of their relationship and how he wasn't cheating on her by going after Takashi. But there were a lot of questions thrown at them, mostly from Saya and they ended up telling them how they had met Takashi and Rei in the first place.

So they had recounted the story of Takashi and Kirito having been stolen to a different dimension. One where they remembered nothing of themselves and lived out normal high school lives. Kirito had blushed when he thought about how easily he'd fallen for Takashi at the time. But then the illusory world broke and it was revealed that some being had brought them there with the intention to make them, as well as others who had been kidnapped, fight, probably to the death.

Rei, Asuna, and other girls had been held hostage as leverage. But even so, having become close, whether friendly or otherwise, they had all refused to fight. After defeating the one who had taken them, everyone had gone back to their original world. But Kirito couldn't stop thinking of Takashi and now here they were.

Everyone looked to Takashi and Rei when they returned, all with varying expressions of confusion, disbelief, and skepticism.

"What an elaborate plot", Shizuka said finally. "Kids have such complicated games."

"They can't be serious", Saya said.

"It is all very hard to believe", Saeko agreed.

Alice looked unsure of who to believe. She had been listening and thought their new friends were telling the truth. But were they lying? Why? Takashi stood there frozen while Rei was shaking. Kirito looked between the two of them and then stood up.

"I know a way to prove that we're not lying", he said. "We can take you back with us."

Now Takashi took a step forward. "Take us back? With you?"

Kirito nodded. "If we can do that, they'll see. And better yet, you'll all be safe." Being on the run from flesh eating monsters was no way to live. And there seemed to be no end in sight. No help from the government, no hope for a cure, no real safe haven.

Takashi and the others of their group shared a look. They knew there was no clear end in sight. Which meant they could probably be fighting these things for the rest of their lives. Takashi looked to Alice. He couldn't bear to imagine her, or any child growing up in a world like that. And yet...and yet...

"I don't think we can just leave", Saeko said.

"A true man never abandons his home!", Kohta exclaimed in a soft tone, trying not to alert anything to their location while still voicing his convictions.

"And all of my stuff is here", Shizuka said, despite the fact that all of her stuff was in an apartment she hadn't seen in months and probably hadn't seen for some time.

"Even you want to stay?", Kirito asked Takashi.

"Leaving would be the easy way out", Takashi answered. "I want our lives to be safer. Not just ours but everyone's. Going into another world is like saying we don't care about anyone else."

In truth, most of them had no one outside this group. Takashi was a hundred percent sure his family was dead. But even he wasn't totally heartless. He cared about humanity in a broad sense. He wanted to see them overcome this. Even though he'd seen how low and horrible and destructive they could be. But they could also be incredibly brave and strong and loving.

Kirito saw that resolve in his eyes and wanted nothing more than to kiss Takashi right here and now. Meanwhile, Takashi saw compassion in Kirito's eyes and felt the same urge with just as much intensity. But obviously they couldn't. Instead, Kirito sat down and took a breath.

"In that case...I guess we'll go with you as far as the stadium, to make sure you get there safe."

"And after?", Rei raised an eyebrow.

"After, we'll return home", Asuna said. "We should be getting back."

After a good night's rest (for most of them, some were restless) they continued on their journey. It went about as well as they had hoped, meaning a few run-ins here and there, but they made good time and arrived at the stadium.

"Well, this is it", Kirito said.

Asuna was saying her goodbyes to the girls while Kirito and Takashi had a moment to themselves. It was feeling very much like the last time they had parted. Going their separate ways and not knowing when they'd see each other again. The only difference was that they knew for sure how they felt now.

"I'll be back", Kirito promised. "And I'll bring help. However I can." Whether that meant an army, coming up with a vaccine or even a way to transport people en masse from this world into his. He wouldn't forget about Takashi and he wouldn't give up on this world.

"I know. I'll be waiting", Takashi said.

The two of them stood there for a moment, still feeling a little awkward about things, even though they had kissed more than once already. But then their shifting gazes met. Both of them took in a breath. And then they closed the distance between each other. As they kissed they both wished that things were different. That they had met in a more peaceful world, a more understanding world, a more forgiving world.

Kirito's hands cupped Takashi's face as they kissed and even when he pulled away. He didn't want to let him go.

And he didn't until Asuna came up and reminded him that they in fact needed to go. Otherwise he would've stayed there all day staring at Takashi. Asuna took out something small and circular. After pressing a series of buttons, it lit up and a swirling vortex of a portal opened up a few feet away from them. Asuna waved at the group before going through.

Kirito did the same, his eyes lingering on Takashi before he went through as well, the portal disappearing with his exit.

"I guess they were telling the truth", Shizuka mused out loud.

With their temporary companions gone, the group entered the stadium. It felt like one chapter of their lives had ended and a new one was beginning. But Takashi knew that whatever happened next, Kirito would always be a part of his story.