Giving my fav SAO girl her due diligence.
A short one-shot, maybe a two-shot if I feel it. This takes place at the end of my War of Underworld story, but more or less an alternative ending. I have more ideas with the Jaymes and Sinon outside of my main storyline,
Enjoy.
Sinon watches as the dark sky of the Dark Territory flashes yellow for a split second. Then, as if a clock jumped several hours ahead, night becomes day. For the first time since her appearance as the Goddess Solus, the sky above the Dark Territory is blue and white. It brings her relief and relaxes her.
The War of Underworld is over.
Kirito, Asuna, and Jaymes did it once again. They lead the charge and saved a virtual world. Sinon doesn't mean anything by it, but it'd be nice for a change if they'd got in some trouble that led to a vacation spot. She'll kill for another trip to the beach this summer. Any excuse to not continue summer homework.
Resting her head on the rock she sits with her back on, her hair moves at the slight fluctuation of the wind. Testing her luck with her eyes closed, she leans her head to the left, stopped in motion by landing on a broad shoulder. Her lips stretch into a smile, for only one person would grant her this kindness. "Good job, Captain."
"You did well too, Shino." She opens her eyes and glances up to Jaymes. The Japanese-African American boy dons his red tunic as SAO's Crimson Warrior, a change from the soldier outfit as GGO's Lucky Red he left her as when he continued chasing Subtilizer. He wraps his arms around her and picks her up bridal style, due to her missing a leg, a wound of the first fight against Subtilizer. "We'll join the others at the ruins before you go."
"What do you mean? Aren't you coming too?"
Jaymes shakes his head. "I'm staying here for a while longer. I'm sure Asuna and Kirito are as well as the simulation rate goes at max speed. But you and Koharu will be logged out since you're on the satellite connection."
Sinon clenches her teeth. She came all this way to help him, Asuna, and Kirito just for them to stay behind willingly? "How long, Joshua?"
"Here? 200 years. For you? 20 minutes and however long it takes us to wake up. Probably a minute before it initiates, so…let's go."
A month later…
"Everyone. In a few seconds, Kirito, myself, and maybe Asuna will be stuck here in the Underworld. For you all, just a few minutes, but for us, it'll be 200 years..."
Shino sighs as she lays in her bed, hands holding a small memorabilia of the fourth Battle of Bullets. It's not the small medal Zaskar sent to the three top players, but something more personal. After being eliminated by Subtilizer, taking second and third place, Sinon and Jaymes took a picture together with their virtual medals. Kureha and Itsuki didn't place, but they did reach the top ten, a powerful showing for Crimson Squad that has continued in competitions this year. Three Squad Jam victories, with intent to compete in September's fourth SJ and the fifth Battle of Bullets this winter. As of now, Shino is winning against her friendly rival in placement, but she hopes to cement herself as GGO's top player with a true win.
Yet winning against Joshua is not what's on Shino's mind.
Jaymes chuckles and looks to the sky. "Well, Koharu, Asuna, and Renly can hold the line for a while longer. Meanwhile, we keep watch for a very bad god… Good to know you're watching my back."
Sinon folds her lips and looks away. "You don't mean that. If anyone should be here, it should be Koharu. She's your partner, after all."
Jaymes shrugs. "Yes, that's true, but she's not the only one. There's Philia, although she also comes with Rain and Strea. There's Kureha. but she comes packaged in with Rei, Zeliska, Itsuki, and most of Crimson Squad. Koharu, in her own right, comes with Kirito, Asuna, and others. You, Sinon, are my only partner without attachment to others. So...can I count on your bow one more time?"
Sinon sighs and presents herself before Jaymes with a small smile. "Jeez, how many times have you rehearsed that speech? Keep talking like that, I'd think you've fallen for me."
"Get your hands off my Sinon!" Jaymes flies in and punches Subtilizer, pulling Sinon away from him.
"Dummy! Dummy! Dummy! Dummy! Why now must you look at me?" Sinon looks Jaymes in the face as tears run down hers. "Why now, Josh? After Koharu, after Liz, after Kureha, why now?"
"I don't know what you mean by me never looking at you, my eyes have been on you since we met. You're my partner, my true rival, the only person outside of that couple that can relate to me… My Sinon."
For a month, those memories of their fight together in Underworld. He didn't confess to hold the same feelings for her, but she didn't exactly say them plainly. Yet he knows he isn't that dense, he heard what she wanted to say. Yet what shot does she really have, especially against other girls he's known much longer?
Koharu, his old partner from SAO risen from the dead. Kotone, his treasure-hunting buddy since SAO. Rika, his ex-girlfriend with mutual lingering feelings. Momiji, his childhood friend and first ever love. Despite having a chance in late May, Momiji denied any further involvement on her part. Kotone hasn't made any moves since the breakup, leaving only Rika as the only competition until Koharu returned a month ago in Underworld.
Funny thing is, Shino had her chance with Joshua, right here outside her very home. After meeting with Kazuto and Asuna about assisting with the fifth Battle of Bullets and learning a bit of the Soul Translator from the boys, Joshua took Shino home from the Dicey Cafe. But instead of thinking about herself, she chose to tell him to make a choice. Go back with Rika, or move on. As of their fight with Subtilizer, he hadn't made a decision, and quite possibly, she's made it harder.
But that was 200 years ago for him, a month for her. Though he hasn't woken up after being logged out of the STL, she's sure he's thought about coming home. Probably dreaded it. She doesn't blame him. It's not an easy decision. Of the options she knows of, Momiji is the safest non-Rika option, while Koharu is the most volatile. Rika only sees one threat to her claim. She stomped Kotone's last year, Momiji bowed out, and Shino's is unknown (as far as she knows, only a few members of Crimson Squad know the truth). Worst-case scenario, he chooses no one. He wins, everyone loses, what happens then?
Her phone dings, followed by repeated, annoyed-sounding knocking. Has someone been at her door for a while? Shino reaches for and grabs her phone, seeing the single text notification...and leaps out of her bed. In her excitement and surprise, she heads for the front door to her apartment, but as she reaches it, those emotions flip to annoyance. Why is he here? Why isn't he at home, or elsewhere with other people he cares about? After all, the last thing everyone remembers is Jaymes hugging Liz before they were logged out. Shouldn't he be at her doorstep? Sighing, she turns her back to the door and slides down to her bottom. "Joshua."
"...Shino."
"You finally woke up. Twenty minutes was a long time ago."
"We're sorry about that. But we've been back in the city for a day."
"As if that makes it better… Why are you here?"
"Because being at home is too...quiet. Momiji is out of town. Kazuto is still in the hospital, Koharu, Sugu, and Asuna are with him. Don't feel like going online. Can't really go anywhere else, so my mind led me here."
Shino crosses her arms while blushing behind the door. "That's a sappy story, even for you."
"I… Yeah. It is." She hears him sit on the outside, then a moment of silence. She wonders what's on his mind, now that a month has passed. Koharu? Rika? Alice? Everyone as a whole? Nothing? Nah, the latter is never true. Even when it seems there's nothing to think about, he's thinking of something.
"Joshua?"
"What's on your mind?"
"I'm wondering if you're mad at me that I can't come inside. I understand why you're mad at me, you aren't the only one. But you're not going to beat Momiji's temper."
"At you? Yeah, that's impossible. She's always mad at you."
"With good reason… But I don't think you're keeping me out because you're mad at me. It's the...other thing. I've decided." Shino feels her heart race. Yes, she's not mad at him, not that much at most, but the reason she can't face him is due to her sudden confession in their fight against Subtilizer.
"And?"
"I'm not making a choice. No, I choose to not make a choice."
"...Why?"
"Rika broke up with me for being who I am. I cannot forget that. As for the other girl in question, the Koharu I loved died two years ago, and, to be honest, part of me still hasn't accepted her back yet. And the rest… I don't have any feelings beyond friendship. Kotone, Nijika, Momiji, no one. To make sure of myself, I've gone off the deep end and tried imagining Sanya in a swimsuit just for fun. It's quite mortifying, even more than Agil in a speedo. Be glad you missed it."
"That bad?" Shino feels her heart drop. She somewhat expected that answer, but not the entire thing. No choice at all? "Does anyone else know about this?"
"No. You're the only one I can tell right now. But I didn't come here to just say that. I heard you, after all, so…" Shino hears a sliding sound from underneath the door. Looking down, she sees a blue ticket. It's to a festival in town later tonight.
"What?"
"I guess I should rephrase my choice. I'm starting over. My personal war ended when Kazuto and the girls beat PoH, the leader of Laughing Coffin, and turned him into a tree. I even got to piss on that tree for 200 years… I didn't do that, but I stabbed his tree. And our war with Subtilizer is done. With that… The Crimson Warrior can finally rest in peace. The last two years can be pushed aside. I vastly prefer being called Lucky Red." Joshua sighs and goes silent momentarily. "So… I don't know what to make of last month, but one thing stuck. You asked me to look your way, and if it was favorable, you wanted your fair shot. I don't know what the Crimson Warrior would say, but Lucky Red accepts that challenge from Hecate. If she wants to go, that is."
Shino presses the ticket against her chest, letting a single tear fall as she silently celebrates. Of course, her victory is not cemented, but if anyone can win the heart of Lucky Red, it's his rival and partner. She gets on her knees and unlocks the door. Swinging it open without any warning, she watches as Joshua falls inside on his back. He hisses as he rubs his head. "Could have said something, Shino."
Shino giggles as her head hovers over Joshua's, then places her finger gun between Joshua's eyes. "Are you sure? What about--" She shuts up as Joshua's own finger plants itself between Shino's eyes.
"As I said, I'm giving you a shot. One bullet in the chamber, locked and loaded. If you feel I'm just replacing Rika or Ko with you and not take the shot, you're free to deny me. I'll accept that. But if you're going to aim, then shoot...because I meant what I said down there. You are my only rival, my unattached partner, and, no matter our relationship, my Sinon."
Shino smiles. "And you're my only rival, my one and only captain, and my Jaymes." Shino "shoots" her gun and stands up. He's willing to give it to her, she's taking the chance. It may cause issues later, but...the feelings in her heart are ready to ignite. "Give me some time, I want to wear my yukata."
Joshua nods as he closes the door. "Go, go...and Shino?"
"Hmm?"
Joshua leans against the door, smirking at her with his arms crossed. "I owe you plenty, and something may come out of this...but you're going down in November. I'm taking the gold."
Shino smiles as she looks at him over her shoulder and waves him off. "All's fair in love and war...so I'll reserve second place for you."
"Excuse me?"
"Wanna bet again? Oh wait, how did that fair for you last time?"
"...Go get dressed…"