Gonna do this now for you all, while I think of it.

My mental health triggered, not even half hour ago, and I'm not in the best of places right now. A lot of self-doubting, a lot of questions, and a whole lot of hurt that's making it hard to not dwell. Spent this time clutching my quilt in the hope to stave the tightness in my chest, since tears have already made themselves present.

So I'll post this now, just so I can take tomorrow for myself and step away from everyone and everything.

Much love, all~

~Chapter 2~
~Sentiment~

"What's ta occasion, Kii-bou?"

Kirito tiredly grinned towards her, holding his hand out while holding the door for her. It had been a week after the two had first met back in the plaza, three days after the successful retrieval of his sword. The two managed to find the ore that Liz had mentioned to him, hauling as much back as the two could between them.

Liz, safe to say, was stunned at the amount the two had gotten for her. Though neither of them would admit that they kept a hefty amount for themselves to use or sell later on down the line. Mostly Argo's idea in the beginning, and Kirito could see the benefits it could bring.

So, it led to Kirito getting Liz to make a set of weapons for both himself and Argo; the info-broker initially surprised by the gesture but grinning in response while her respect for him bumped up a good few notches.

"Figured to give you a proper thank you," Kirito admitted, scratching the back of his neck out of nervousness. He figured she sensed his discomfort, since she didn't tease him as she normally would. A few soft pats on his arm as she passed him was all that needed to be said on that matter, with her admiring the little cafe he took her to.

It was nothing special but the atmosphere was much warmer than some of the other places she had frequented. Making a note to herself to come back again, the two found a booth secluded from the rest of the cafe to occupy. The two settled down into a comfortable silence before Argo decided to break it.

"Hey, Kii-bou? Why did ya really wanna bring me here?" she asked him again, now that no-one was there to eavesdrop on their conversation. She watched Kirito look down at his lap, his posture stiffening slightly once her words registered. She winced slightly, having disturbed the comfortable feeling they just had but her curiosity was dying to know.

"... I know you could have made my situation known," Kirito began, not being able to meet her gaze and therefore missing the second wince from her. "Yet you didn't. I have no doubt that you would've gotten a kick out of it but it was painful to ask for help. As a fellow 'Beater', you'd know the stigma we've got against us," he explained, earning a solemn nod in response to his point. She hated the term but nothing could change the disdain people had for them now, thanks to that Kiabou bastard.

"So it meant a lot when you still wanted to help out. Even these ores we stashed aside was your idea, and it was a grand idea. I just… wanted to thank you by bringing you here," he finished softly, a self-deprecating smile on his face as he finished.

Argo cursed herself for looking too much into this, taking him in a new light after all that was said. She's so used to people interacting with her because they wanted something from her, and that people only did something nice for her because they'd hold it against her in a weak-assed attempt at blackmail.

She can't remember the last time she was treated to something nice, with no strings attached, as a thank you for helping someone. It was foreign to her but she would admit it felt… nice. She was a little glad that someone appreciated her like how he did, and she wanted to make that known to him. She scooted closer to him, gingerly placing her hand on top of his.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean ta sound ungrateful to ya," Argo apologized softly, now being the one unable to look at him and missing his look of surprise. "I'm used ta people wanting me for summat, and 'treating' me in exchange for summat later on," she admitted to him. Swallowing slightly, she looked up to face him with a weak grin.

"Can't even remember the last time someone decided ta take me out for something without strings attached to it. Definitely the first time since we've been stuck in here," Argo confessed to Kirito, shocking the swordsman into speechlessness. Argo squeezed his hand, allowing a more natural grin to appear on her face alongside the faintest of blushes.

"I guess what I wanna say is… thank you, Kazuto," she thanked him, deciding to use his real name as a means to convey how much this meant to her. She had found out during the fight itself that Kazuto was his real name, and she teased him relentlessly about it ever since. He seemed to take it in stride though, which was a nice touch. She decided to give him her own real name in response, despite it being a stupid impulsive idea at the time.

"Anytime, Hosaka," Kirito smiled, the two of them returning to that comfortable silence. However, they didn't take into consideration the female NPC waitress listening to them talk, and both of them froze at the cough that alerted them to her presence.

"I-I'm sorry to interrupt you two! W-Would you both care to order something?" she stammered shyly, an embarrassed blush on her face. Kirito and Argo turned to one another and snorted in amusement before the latter began chuckling.

"Ya got anything for couples, miss? I'm feeling like Kii-bou here wants something sweet right now~" Argo grinned mischievously, making Kirito choke on his spit from the crass comment. "Make sure there's some good ol' sausage in there somewhere for me, too!"

"O-O-Of course, miss!" the poor waitress blushed harder, waving her hand in front of her face to calm the heat that rushed to her face before dashing away swiftly. Kirito recovered soon enough, his blush causing Argo to burst out in laughter from the look on his face.

It may have not been much to anyone else but this moment would be one she would cherish for the rest of her life.

~Chapter End~