A/N: Thank you so, SO much for all the views, follows/favorites lately! I'm exceptionally happy this fanfic is well-received by you guys. I'd also like to thank everyone who left a review, your feedback means a lot to me. I have and will continue PMing everyone that leaves a review on this story.


Chapter 4

ASUNA POV

''Asuna, hurry up and get out of bed. Breakfast is ready.''

I open my eyes and stretch my arms.

''Yes, Okaa-san, I'll be right there in a few minutes'' I reply and get up immediately despite being a little tired, as I know my mother doesn't like waiting.

(A/N: Kaa basically means mum and it's how you usually address your own mum. Adding O- to the beginning makes it more polite and - San is an honorific that is also adding politeness. Asuna addresses her mother that way because of the strict nature of their relationship)

I head to the bathroom to brush my teeth and take a quick shower. To be honest, I hadn't gotten much sleep last night. Yesterday's events were still fresh in my memory and managed to bring a slight blush to my cheeks.

I couldn't stop myself from daydreaming about the raven-haired boy that had carried me to the nurse's office while I was unconscious, had watched over me while I was resting, had walked and carried me home and who I had almost accidentally kissed.

As embarrassing as it may be, I couldn't wait to see him and hopefully spend some more time with him again today.

I head to the kitchen to have breakfast, where I'm greeted by my parents. Breakfast is served and I start eating.

''Asuna, how's school going so far?'' my mom asks with a blank expression on her face.

''It's going really well. The teachers are great and I've made some really good friends.'' I answer . It has been going well, and a smile creeps onto my face when I think of the new boy , Kazuto-kun.

''That's good. I presume you're maintaining good grades and you've been studying well in order to get into Tokyo University.'' She says, with a more serious tone this time, since this is the only thing that essentially matters to her.

''Of course , Okaa-san.'' I say, looking a little gloomy .

After I'm done eating, I grab my bag and head out the door, as I wave goodbye to my parents. I make my way towards school and when I reach the school gate, I'm met with my best friend Lis.

''Good morning , Asuna!'' she says , looking overly-excited for some reason.

''Good morning, Lis . What's up, why are you so energetic?'' I ask curiously .

''Mmmh, I guess you could say I was looking forward to asking you about somebody'' she says with a grin on her face and I understand where this is going.

''A-about whom?'' I answer, trying to sound oblivious in order to avoid her teasing, but failing.

''I don't know, the guy that carried you bridal-style to the nurse's office and who apparently looked after you afterwards?'' she says, making my face go completely red from embarrassment.

H-how does she even know that he looked after me? If she knew that he took me home, I wouldn't hear the end of it..

''Did you two perhaps-''

''O-of course not!'' I say, cutting her off because I knew what she was about to ask. ''H-he was just being nice..'' I say, a blush evident on my cheeks .

''A little unusually nice for someone he just met, don't you think?'' she says winking at me, and my heart flutters at what she's implying. I hope so.. ''Anyway , I'll be going on ahead because I need to hand in some homework I forgot yesterday. See you in class, Asuna''

''Okay.. See you, Lis'' I say, sighing at how forgetful my best friend could be when it came to her homework.

A few seconds later, I hear a voice behind me.

''Good morning , Asuna''

I instantly recognize who the husky voice belonged to and turn around to face Kazuto-kun, who has a smile on his face.

''G-Good morning, Kazuto-kun'' I say, still slightly blushing from my conversation with Lis about the raven-haired boy.

''How are you feeling? Are your foot and head okay?'' he says with a slight frown appearing on his face, seemingly worried.

''Yes, I'm feeling perfect today. Thank you so much for yesterday, again ..'' I say earnestly.

''No need to thank me. It was my pleasure'' he says, sincerely , his onyx eyes looking into mine, as I'm lost in them for what seemed like hours .

We both snap out of our trance when we realize that the focus of all our surrounding students was us. They were all staring right at us while we were walking towards our classroom.

'So the rumors were true?'

'Yes , I saw him carrying her!'

'Do you think they're already dating?'

By the time we reached our classroom, I had gone completely red from embarrassment and the attention I was receiving. Not to mention all the jealous looks I got from the girls. To be honest, I normally would've been slightly angry at comments about me and someone else dating if we actually weren't. But, in this instance, I .. didn't really mind.

I would never admit it, but I felt a little giddy about people thinking I'm dating Kazuto-kun and a smile crept onto my cheeks.

I turned my head to look up at him walking beside me, wondering what his reaction was to all this. A blush was evident on his cheeks and had a hand in his hair, probably a little uncomfortable from the spotlight. However , he was still wearing his perfect smile, looking genuinely content. It made my heart skip a beat.

''I'm kind of sorry about this, Kazuto-kun. It looks like helping me brought you more unwanted attention..'' I say, feeling a little bad that I've caused him trouble.

''Don't be. There's no reason for you to apologize, Asuna . Besides, I don't mind them talking about us at all'' he says, rendering me speechless as my heart starts beating increasingly fast.

KIRIGAYA KAZUTO POV

When I was carrying Asuna yesterday, I had never thought that things would escalate this much..

While me and Asuna were walking to our classroom, the comments about how I carried her bridal-style or how we had apparently already started dating didn't stop. All the attention we were receiving was draining. The murderous looks I was receiving from many of the guys didn't help either.

But, honestly, I can't deny the fact that I didn't mind people thinking that me and Asuna are dating. I know we had only just met but I couldn't help but find her.. captivating . What's more, the fact that she was smiling despite the slightly messy situation made her all that much more entrancing and brought a smile onto my face as well.

We took our seats as soon as we reached the classroom and Aki-sensei walked in right after us. She starts the lesson and I start paying attention.

When the bell rings, Aki-sensei calls on me.

''Kirigaya-kun, could you come with me for a second?'' she asks, making me wonder what she could want.

''Of course , Aki-sensei''

As soon as we walk out of the classroom, I speak .

''What do you need?'' I ask her softly.

''Come with me to the principal's office for a second'' she answers, and I still have no idea what's going on.

We start walking until we're met with the principal's office. As soon as we enter, we're greeted by Kikuoka-san.

''Yo. I've been waiting for you, Kirigaya-kun'' he says , and I could imagine what this probably is about.

''Good morning, Kikuoka-san. I'm guessing this is about the Discipline Committee?''

''Hm, I guess you could say that'' he answers , confusing me. ''I wanted to privately talk to you about something before that''

''About what, sir?'' I say , unable to understand why it needed to be in private.

''You see, this is sensitive information so I would like you not to disclose this to anyone else''

''Okay..'' I answer, still having no idea what he could be talking about .

''There's actually been an incident involving two of this school's students. They were badly injured and later hospitalized'' he says, a serious expression on his face .

''I see'' I say , now having an idea what this could be about. ''Was this incident caused by 'red players'?''

''Most likely'' he says , fixing his glasses. ''They were found knocked out and badly injured in the back of the school yard by one of our teachers. The students don't know about this incident yet, as we'd like to avoid any commotion for now''

That's why Shinomiya-sensei left the nurse's office..

''Are they okay?'' I ask.

''It will take some time till they can leave the hospital, but their lives aren't in danger'' he answers .

''Have you asked them who did that to them?''

''I have, but they do not remember any faces. They were called by someone for help, probably in order to lure them out, and before they knew it they were being beaten up and knocked around'' he says, explaining this awful incident to me.

''Who were the two students?'' I inquire curiously.

''Their names were Koji and Naoki. The former was a second-year and the latter was a third-year''

''So there was no connection between them?'' I ask , wondering if they were specifically targeted for any reason .

''That's what I wondered as well so I looked into it. Apparently, the two had something in common''

''What would that be?''

''They were both members of the same guild inside Sword Art Online'' he says , making me gasp in surprise. This cause for this incident was something that happened inside the game. Some sort of grudge I'm guessing ?

''Do you know the name of the guild, Kikuoka-san?'' I ask , curiously .

''Their name was The Knights of the Blood Oath'' he says , matter-of-factly .

My memory suddenly jolts and my head starts to ache, making me kneel in pain .

A vision of a man with long black hair appears in my head, looking at me with a wicked evil grin while he has a blade inside my stomach. He was in that guild.. Ku-ra ... deel? Kuradeel! That was his name! Are my memories coming back? If so , how am I not dead to his hands? I can't rememb-

''Are you okay Kirigaya-kun!?''

My thoughts are abruptly cut short from a shouting Aki-sensei and Kikuoka.

''Yes'' I say as I wince in pain, holding my head with my hand. ''Just a little headache'' I continue. ''More importantly , sir , do you know any motive these 'red players' might have for targeting that particular guild?''

''Unfortunately, we do not know as of yet. We do, however, have a list of the guild's members'' replies Kikuoka-san , now looking straight into my eyes making me tense up . ''With that being said , Kirigaya-kun, would you be willing to join the Discipline Committee?'' he continues , all while staring at me .

''I.. I don't know yet if-'' I stutter , not yet having made up my mind about this decision.

''Someone you may care about might just be targeted next , you know?'' he cuts me off , making a valid point .

My mind instantly traces back to a certain chestnut-haired girl. What if she were to be targeted? What if any of my classmates met the same fate as the two kids in the hospital? I certainly wouldn't like that.

And if anything happened to Asuna..

''You're right, sir. I'll be joining the Discipline Committee after all'' I say , clenching my fists .

''A wise decision, Kirigaya-kun. I don't think you'll come to regret it'' he says , with a smirk on his face . ''So, right off the bat, I'd like to inform you of your duties as a member of the Discipline Committee'' he says, making me gulp. ''Obviously, you are to stop any violent acts that may occur inside school grounds, no matter the cause. Use of force is permitted if the situation calls for it. Because this 'job' is potentially dangerous, you're allowed to carry a weapon of your choice on you at all times. You can choose any weapon that is inside the Discipline Committee's club room. Sound good so far?'' he asks , checking to see if I've managed to follow.

''Yes , sir'' I reply .

''Good. First of all, I'd like you to wear something at all times inside school grounds'' he says , as he stands up from his seat and walks up to a bookshelf. He picks up a piece of cloth that had 'Discipline Committee Member' written on it. ''This is a token of your authority. As long as you're wearing this , the students will not question your right to defuse a violent situation no matter the method'' he states and I wrap the piece of cloth around my arm. ''So , as your very first 'mission' ..'' he says, handing me what seemed like a list.

''And this is?'' I ask , as I take it into my hands.

''I'd like you to look after the members of The Knights of the Blood Oath. If the two victims were targeted because of they guild they were in, it's highly likely they will come after more of them, wouldn't you agree? That is a list of every member that attends this school'' he answers.

My attention shifts to the list of members I've just been handed and my eyes scan the names written on it.

Fultz (Tanaka Koji)

Sanza (Yamamoto Naoki)

Muldar (Tanaka Daiki)

Segro (Watanabe Hiroki)

...

After reading through a bunch of in-game names, and real life names next to them that I didn't recognize, my eyes fell on a very familiar name that I didn't want to see at all.

Asuna (Yuuki Asuna)


A/N: And that's Chapter 4!

I'd like to apologize for taking a longer time to update than normal, I have been a little busy and I wasn't sure where to end this chapter off either. I thought a slight cliffhanger was appropriate though.

I also want to mention that the in-game names of the guild's members are true, but their real life names I just made up.

On a side note, hope you had a great Valentine's day! Till next time! -Syth