Asuna

"Is it...over?" Koharu's voice is the only sound after half a minute passes. In those thirty seconds, Asuna and the other forty-five players stood in silence, unable to comprehend what just happened. Silently she strolls over to Kirito, lowering his arm and staring at him. He faces her with the dumbest look on his face, so she says something to break his trance.

"Nice work."

The "Congratulations" prompt floats in the air, the rewards flash in a prompt in front of each player, and, most noticeable of all, no more monsters come to fight. After a month where one-fifth of the player population has died, a small band of players has opened the path to Floor 2. Slowly cheers reverberate within the chamber, and Asuna's sure that the entirety of the first floor has now heard the news.

The First Floor has been beaten. The First Floor has been beaten. The First Floor has been beaten.

"Congrats," Agil says as he slings his huge ars around Kirito's shoulders. "This win was all on you."

"Nah…"

"Indeed it was." Asuna, Kirito, and the other three around them turn their heads to a standing Diavel. Sighing, he scratches his head and looks at the roaring players behind them. "That was quite the battle. I guess I had no place in it. But I owe my thanks to you, Jaymes. I should have said it so earlier, but consider me being right about you as us being even about that delay."

Jaymes crosses his arms but smiles nonetheless. "Yeah, yeah. I did it on instinct. But the real hero here is Asuna." Surprised to hear a compliment from the warrior in red, Asuna faces him in shock as he continues. "If you hadn't taken charge for that moment, I doubt we would be done fighting now. Got to say, you have the guts to lead."

"What do you mean? If anything, you got them out of their confusion beforehand. You're a good leader too."

Jaymes nods then contacts his upper chest. "Yeah, but I don't have these going for me--OW! Koharu! What, you did well too."

Koharu glares at Jaymes. "That's not why I hit you and you know it. But thank you."

"Hold on just one moment!" The cheers and good attitude die with Kibaou's furious march to Asuna's group, Agil, and Diavel, followed by the other lingering players. His eyes, however, are aimed at Kirito. "Tell me! Explain to me why exactly you lied to us, and to Diavel! If you had just told us 'bout that from the start, Diavel would never have been in danger… None of us would have!"

Surprising Asuna, it is Koharu who speaks first in defense of Kirito. "Kirito was out there fighting to save Diavel with Jaymes, too. How can you take that tone of voice?"

"I'm not talking results here, I'm talking methods! This guy put Diavel in danger and then steps in to take all the glory!"

Asuna grits her teeth as the other players around them speak amongst themselves in favor of Kibaou. How dare they accuse Kirito of something that heinous! True, she doesn't know the guy, but in the three days they've spent together since he rescued her, she's learned that, if anything, he's not something who'd do something to hurt another. "You guys…"

Jaymes steps forward in Kibaou's face. "Let it be known that it was Kirito who proposed something may be different, and you ignored it. You were confident in your simulations, wary of...other things that you wouldn't listen to him."

Kibaou steps up to Jaymes, practically touching foreheads now. "You got something more to say, kid? Are you in cahoots with him...and maybe the Rat is as well?"

"You…"

Diavel tries to defuse the situation. "Everyone, please! The truth is--"

"A former beta tester? Please...don't treat me like those amateurs." Eyes lock back on Kirito as his expression goes cold and his voice void of emotions. "Think back. The odds were stacked against anyone trying to get into the SAO closed beta. How many of the thousand who made it in do you think were true MMO fans? They were all noobs who barely understood how to level. You guys are way smarter about this game than they ever were…" Kirito's eyes momentarily flicker to Koharu and Jaymes before he grins uncharacteristically. "But I'm not like them. I made it to a floor no one else in the beta reached. I knew the boss' katana attacks because I'd fought mobs on a way higher floor who used the same moves. I never thought I'd see it on this level, but thanks to our happy-go-lucky knight of a leader here, I was lucky enough to get by without a scratch. I know plenty about this game--way more than Argo."

"Whatcha trying to say," Kibaou asks. "What kinda tester are you? I know, you must be some kind of cheater or something!"

"A beta cheater! This dude's a 'beater' he is!"

"Beater," Kirito repeats. "Fine, I'll take it. I'm a beater, then. Now stop lumping me in with those other newb beta testers." Kirito turns away and fiddles with his equipment, presenting with a new black jacket over his blue shirt and metal chest plate. "I'll go activate the teleport gate on the second floor. There's a bit of a hike through the wilderness to reach the main city once you leave the exit, so you can tag along--if you're not afraid of being slaughtered by unfamiliar mobs."

Kirito leaves, and for several moments, no one says anything until, once again, Koharu breaks the silence. "Why did Kirito say all that? Now people are going to think he's the real bad guy here."

Asuna is unable to provide an answer, so she looks to Jaymes. He looks in the direction Kirito left and sighs. "People needed a scapegoat," he answers, only to the two girls around him, Agil, and Diavel. "If he didn't stand out as a dirty...beater, then the rest of the beta testers would keep getting singled out by everyone. Me, you, and Diavel, Argo, and those couple hundred still alive. Rather than all of us take the heat…"

"He decided to take on that burden by himself," Asuna finishes. That idiot… "When I passed out in the dungeon, he came in and rescued me."

"What happened to you," Koharu asks.

"I was in there for three days straight with zero sleep." She catches a condescending eye from Koharu's partner and returns it. "I know, it was stupid of me. But it was something I needed."

"In order to beat the game?"

"In order for me to be me. If my only other choice was to lock myself up in an inn and rot away, I felt like I rather go out as the me I know. Losing out to some monster is one thing, but I couldn't bear losing out to the world itself. The thought of it was too much. And so, well, before I knew it, I was fighting away, hoping to go out with a bang.''Asuna once again looks to the path Kirito took, frowning unconsciously. "But he was different. He was ready to spend years to beat this game."

"And now we have your four to thank for getting us through Floor 1," Agil says.

Asuna nods. "Agil, Koharu, Jaymes… I'm gonna head up after him. I never got the chance to thank him before."

"You tell him this then. 'I look forward to battling our next boss together.'"

Jaymes nods. "And we'll be there, too."

Asuna smiles. "Okay. I'll definitely let him know… I guess I'll see you around, then." Asuna nods the three farewell and turns to follow Kirito, but then Koharu grabs her wrist, halting her. "K-Koharu?"

"Wait… A-Asuna, since we survived… I was wondering if you wanted to form a party with Jaymes and me. You know...not just for floor dungeons, but to see the world of Aincrad together."

Asuna turns fully to Koharu and takes her hands. For some reason, Asuna feels like breaking down. In one world, girls she knew for years in school disliked and ostracized her for her grades, her looks, the attention she gained from them, but in three days, she's being welcomed by a girl she barely knows. That warm feeling builds in Asuna that she suddenly takes Koharu in a hug. "I… When we meet on Floor 2, of course I'll join you. And if I find him, I'll drag Kirito along too. Is that okay with you, Jaymes?"

Jaymes rolls his eyes and sighs. "Well, you two make things more lively… Guess we'll catch up after handling this mess Kirito made and reporting to that scammer of an info broker." When he opens his eyes, it comes paired with a smirk, probably the first genuine one directed at her. "And please, don't make us come to rescue you from a potential log-out spot again."

"So that was you two. I figured… Thank you, and see you two again."

Jaymes

As Asuna walks off, Jaymes softly groans and turns his head towards the remaining players. "What a fantastic sight."

Agil nods. "Looks like we don't exactly have a grand finale waiting for us." That "grand finale" is the announcement from Diavel that he'll be leaving the front, which, in Jaymes's mind, doesn't mean much personally. But for the raids, this could be a huge blow.

"You just want to up and quit, Diavel," Kibaou asks. "But why?"

"I'm sorry. I'm just not cut out to be your leader."

"Why? Things only fell apart 'cause of that good for nothing beater! That ain't on your shoulders!"

Diavel sighs and places a hand on Kibaou's shoulder. "Kibaou, I'm sure you know well that we would have suffered without him."

"But that's just cause…"

"If I had just kept my head, I should have been able to tell that the boss changed to a different weapon. But I was focused on landing the last strike that I dropped everything and rushed in. After telling everyone no to do the same."

"But Diavel, I mean, you weren't out to get it for yourself, yeah? You just wanted it for everyone's sake, yeah? You ain't like that good for nothing beater. You're better than that, see?"

"It's of little matter. I still rushed in to satisfy my own urges, and I put everyone in danger because of it."

Kibaou groans and gestures to the other players. "Diavel, man… Come on, man, what are we supposed to do? If you ain't around to lead, who can keep us all together?"

Diavel looks to a guy with blue hair surrounded by Diavel's Team C. "I want to ask my comrade Lind and you to take lead, Kibaou. No matter what you might think of Kirito, he's a powerful ally to have, and one you should keep with you."

Hearing enough, Jaymes speaks up. "What are you going to do, Diavel?"

"Jaymes, I have an unpayable debt to both you and Kirito. But I'll return once I feel I can at last pay you back, I promise."

"I'll be waiting for ya to come back," KIbaou interrupts. "But I'll play leader until then, you'll see. Sounds like a plan?"

Diavel nods. "Indeed. I leave everyone in your hands." Diavel takes his leave, and that's when the party disperses, either towards the second floor with Lind and Kibaou or, in Diavel's case, back out to the first. However, Jaymes, Koharu, and Agil linger around for a moment more.

"Where do you think Diavel is heading off to all alone? Will he be okay?"

"He said he'd be back," Agil comments. "All we can do is let him be and wait. Guess I better head back to my party, too. Don't let this all get to you. Kirito and Diavel made their choices." Agil waves farewell and heads off to his party. Now alone with Koharu, Jaymes watches as Agil's group vanishes from his sight. He then faces his quiet partner, seeing her crestfallen expression. "Koharu, you okay?"

Koharu steps forward, dropping her head on Jaymes' chest. "Jaymes... I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?"

"When you ran to save Diavel, all I could do was watch. My feet were just locked in place."

Jaymes sighs and shrugs. "It was your first boss battle ever, and this isn't like traditional gaming. It's no big deal. Besides, no one was ready for it."

"No, but… What if it happens again? I'm worried I might lose you because of my own helplessness… I need to be braver, enough to stand by you, like Kirito and Asuna."

Jaymes smiles and pats Koharu on the head. "Don't worry. You'll get strong enough. And who knows, maybe we'll be stronger than them one day. But we have to get stronger first."

"You think so too, Jaymes? Hmm…" Koharu picks up her head and looks at Jaymes, wiping her eyes. "Hey, hearing about how Kirito saved Asuna reminded me. Remember back when we first met, and someone saved us from those monsters? What was his name?"

Jaymes frowns and looks away. Why, of all times, does she remember it now during their heart to heart… "He didn't save us. He just so happened to be there."

Koharu gasps and laughs. "It was Kirito! It was definitely the same Kirito, huh? I hope we can repay the favor someday." Koharu smiles and steps in front of Jaymes, looking at the boss room's entrance. "This is it, huh? The end of Floor 1… It's kind of scary, huh? But I'm glad I have you here with me, Jaymes."

"Uh-huh… Come on, let's head on back to Tolbana. Maybe you'll catch up with Kirito later."

"Hehe, are you jealous? You're still my hero and partner. Kirito can't replace that."

"Wouldn't hurt to hear that more often, partner."

"Although Asuna might be a more suitable party member than either of you."

"Huh?"

Asuna

"I told you not to come."

Asuna frowns as she steps up to Kirito, the boy gazing out at the landscape of Floor 2, a land of rocky mesas and green plains as far as the eye can see. Asuna ignores it for the moment as she responds to him. "No, you didn't. You said to tag along if I wasn't afraid of dying."

"Oh...right. Sorry."

Asuna looks away and examines the land, standing quietly for a moment to soak in the reality before speaking again. "I have messages from Agil, Jaymes, and KIbaou."

"Oh…what did they say?"

"Agil said we should tackle the second-floor boss, Jaymes said it too. And Kibaou said… 'Ya saved my ass this time, but I still can't get along with ya. I'm gonna do things my own way to beat this game, y'hear?'"

"...I see."

"...Also… I have a message from me. You and Jaymes both called out my name during the battle."

"S-Sorry, I didn't mean to disrespect you, if that's what you think...Or did I pronounce it wrong?"

Asuna frowns. "Pronounce it wrong? How did you even know it in the first place? I can understand Jaymes because I told Koharu, but I never told you my name nor did any of you boys tell me yours."

"Huh?" Kirito's eyes maneuver to his left for a moment. "Wait...are you saying...this is your very first time being in a party?"

"Yes."

"I see." Kirito raises his right hand and points to Asuna's left. "Do you see three extra health bars over here, in addition to your own. Is anything written beneath it?"

"Um…" Asuna turns her head, but Kirito stops her with his hand on her cheek and adjusts her head back to straight. "No, if you turn your face, the readouts will move with it. Keep your head still and look to your left." Asuna follows his instructions, seeing the information of Jaymes, Koharu, and Kirito in that order. Well, that explains it, the three of them knew her name before they even spoke it. "Oh...so it was written here the entire time."

"Mhm."

Asuna realizes that, of the three, she has never said Kirito's name. Given that circumstance, she looks at him in his dark eyes and tests it on her tongue. "Kirito."

"Yeah…" Kirito… Oh, he's still touching her cheek. She wants to tell him to stop, but the words are hung up in her voicebox. But they aren't there because she's afraid, but a much warmer feeling she doesn't understand. Kirito must sense it as he drops his hand and, for some reason, she lightly chuckles for a moment. That probably confuses him as well.

"Actually, Kirito, I came up here to thank you."

"For...the cream bread and the bath?"

Asuna gives him a look for the mentioning of the latter, "It's for...a lot of things. Thanks for everything. I think… I've finally found something here that I want to do, a goal I want to reach."

"Oh? What's that?"

She grins. "It's a secret. I'm gonna keep trying. I'll try to survive, to be stronger. Until I can reach the place I want to be."

"I know," Kirito responds while looking back to Floor 2. "You can be stronger. Not just in terms of your fighting skill, but in a much more important, personal sense. So take it from me… If someone you trust invites you to a guild, don't turn them down. There's an absolute limit to what you can accomplish playing solo."

Asuna folds her lips. "Koharu wants us to party together again… I agreed on our behalf. Sorry if that offends you, but you just said it yourself, there's a limit to what even you can do." Turning away, Asuna takes two steps towards the door back down to Floor 1 before speaking again. "The next time we meet, tell me how you took me out of that labyrinth."

"Sure, you bet. In fact, there's one more thing I ought to tell you. What I was about to say before the meeting two days ago…"

Asuna waves it off. "It's fine. I get it. I know what you've been through to get here, and where you'll go on your own from here. But, someday, I'll…" Asuna whispers the rest, too low for even Kirito to hear, and sighs. She can't tell him all that, so she sighs and opens the door. "See you later, Kirito."

Kirito holds his hand up. "See you around, Asuna."

Present Day

Kazuto looks up from his homework packet and groans as Alice hands him and the others cups of tea. "You aren't going to let that go, are you, Joshua?"

Joshua reaches over to Suguha's cheek and reenacts the scene Asuna first says Kirito's name, albeit in his own way. "'Say my name, Asuna'"

Suguha gets wide-eyed and cute as she seeks to portray Asuna as best she can. "'K-Kirito,'"

"'Asuna...'" The pair stare at each other for a moment before the doorbell to Suguha's home rings, breaking the atmosphere but not the hilarity of it as the two of them laugh. "Man, this is great. To think that was the first moment you two got all disgustingly cute and cuddly with each other."

Asuna frowns. "Oh, but you aren't so innocent yourself, Joshua." She faces Koharu, who starts to redden. "You were jealous of Kazuto because Koharu mentioned him."

"No, I wasn't."

"Y-Yes you were," Koharu intervenes, having to remember again the final conversation they had in the first dungeon. "You spent the rest of the day in a mood. As a matter of fact, you weren't happy until we went to the second floor the following day, then you got moody again."

"Because that spiky-headed ass asked us to help him out."

"I think the main takeaway here is that Asuna and Joshua knew each other first," Suguha comments. "But your families do know each other well, right? You both went to the same place last winter."

Asuna shivers at the memories of the last part of their winter break. "Yes, but we only met once before then. It wasn't a memorable meeting at all. I'm sure you all can understand why."

Joshua crosses his arms and closes his eyes crossly. "I have no idea what you're implying, Asuna. The only thing you conserved is your brattiness. Your looks went downhill."

"Ah, but you were an ass yourself back then." The group looks up to the newcomers, that being the rest of their group of friends minus one, Shino Asada, Keiko Ayano, Kotone Takemiya, and Nijika Karatachi. The speaker, Shino, bonks Joshua on his head as she sits on the couch behind him. "No different than now."

"Hey…"

"How much did we miss," Kotone asks.

"Just finished the first floor."

"Oh," Nijika comments, "so the Beater story."

"...Why does everyone call it that?"

Kotone smirks. "But everyone heard about the Beater Kirito and the shield that saved Diavel, Jaymes. It pretty much established the roles they'd have with Kibaou's Aincrad LIberation Squad and Lind's Dragon Knight Brigade. Asuna and Koharu had their own reputation separately and associated with the guys."

Suguha giggles as she takes her seat back by Joshua, resting her head on his shoulder. "So Big Brother was a butt, Joshua was a jerk, and Asuna was not that nice on the first floor. Poor Koharu, she's the only angel here. When did the four of you meet again?"

"We wouldn't all meet until a few days after the first boss fight, right," Asuna asks. "When we happened to get entangled with the advance team with the field boss and when...that happened to me."

Kazuto nods. "Yeah, and from that moment on, we stuck together, more or less, except for the few times we split up."

Koharu nods. "When me and Joshua met Rika and Keiko. Besides that, we were all together with Kizmel..." Asuna and Koharu's eyes linger on Joshua, who looks at them feeling scrutinized.

"What?"

"You know what you did."

"We haven't forgotten that."

Alice glares at Joshua. "Knowing you, you probably did something horrible to offend her. Furthermore, how dare you offend Eydis like that..."

"Huh?"

Suguha leans off Joshua's shoulder and stares at him. "What did you do to the Sword Art Online version of Kizmel?"

"Nothing!"

Shino crosses her arms. "If it was Klein or Kazuto, maybe it wouldn't sound as bad, but this is you. Klein's open about it, Kazuto is dense, but you are you."

"Why am I worse than Klein?"

Kazuto chuckles and waves the subject off. "Guys, we're getting ahead of ourselves. We got another floor before we get to Kizmel… When Asuna's cherished sword broke."

First Floor completed with heartwarming moments between both pairs. They'll be back together again very soon. Second Floor will follow the manga's order of events, and I allude to Koharu and Jaymes' time prior to what will be the reunion to take care of half of Integral Factor's Floor 2 story and ignoring the rest until we get to the dungeon.Someone is missing from the present day group. I wonder why...See you all in Chapter 7.