Asuna
You'd think if he was going to trap me in here, he'd at least give me a more comfortable bed…
That was one of my multiple complaints to Sugou so far in his visits. After what felt like weeks, I was beginning to think I could see his patterns of visits. The truth of the matter was however, despite the day and night cycle of this game we were trapped in, I had no idea how much time had passed in the real world. The games day and night cycle could have only been a few hours, and since there was no clock in my prison, I couldn't even learn that. From the outside looking in, my situation seemed impossible, no way to tell where I was, only a massive tree which this cage was attached too, Sugou was the GM, so he had unlimited power in this world.
But still… I knew Kirito wasn't giving up on the outside, so neither was I. I was going to find some way out of here, I'd find him, put Sugou away for what he did and then…
Kirito and I… we can finally mourn him… Akira-kun…
In the few seconds after Aincrad fell, I thought about what Kirito and I would do after finding each other. We had dates to go on, kids to name after Akira… and most importantly, I had wanted to carry on his legacy, I wanted to find the Tanaka's, find his old things… honor the boy who'd been my best-friend, one of my rocks. If he had been alive, it would have helped me a bit, knowing Kirito had someone on the outside.
But no, Kirito was alone on the outside now. I knew he wouldn't give up, I knew he'd come for me, I knew he'd get me out of here… but now he had to do it alone.
"But I won't just sit here…" I muttered, looking at the mirror next to the bed. "I have his schedule down, now… to memorize the code… he should be-."
"Well, you certainly seem to be energetic today, normally I find you sprawled out," An annoyed familiar voice said behind me.
I turned and saw Sugou, but he didn't have any of his normal arrogant swagger. The 'Fairy King' wore an annoyed look on his face as he plopped himself down at my table. He hadn't called me 'Titania' or whatever fantasy name he'd given me… what was wrong? I right away was suspicious.
"The least you can do is make the bed more comfortable," I said to him, crossing over my arms and turning from him. "Or is that too much for you to accomplish?"
"Shut your mouth, you're arrogant for a prisoner," He growled at me, and that made me more curious. I thought for a minute he was putting on an act.
I wasn't complaining, I'd stayed strong so far, but feeling that beast's hand on me again… I didn't know how much more I could take. That was why, I needed to put my plan into motion today. Perhaps if I annoyed him enough, he'd storm out without being careful, and I could see the code.
"A prisoner who I know you need you sick freak," I growled at him. "What's your problem today, you seem even more despicable than usual."
"And you are just as mouthy as you've always been," He winced, shooting up from the table, and when he did, he growled in pain, as… I saw something curious
Did… his arm just flash? Nothing seems wrong with it… I wonder, I thought as gears in my brain began to whirl.
I was going to get out of here, I knew Kirito was coming, but I wouldn't make him do all the work.
"What's wrong with you? Did you trip over a cat or something?" I told him, pulling my knees to my chest, my eyes not moving up.
"Would you prefer I get violent?! Or be my usual uppity self?!" He shouted back.
I shook my head. "No, I despise hearing you talk. I find every word you say unpleasant, and when I get out of here, my father and brother are going to dismantle your company one bit at a time to pay for my medical bills."
"Oh, you're awfully cocky today," He said, glaring, before finally… he smirked and leaned back in his chair. "Oh… by the way Titania I've been meaning to ask you something."
"I have no interest in answering any of your questions," I hissed back at him, annoyed at the name again. "And quite calling me that you animal."
He laughed, the sunset light gleaming into the cage. "Oh, but I think you'll answer this one, see, you don't have a choice! So… are you sure you were only with one of those insufferable brats? Or were you fucking the archer as well as the swordsman."
My head shot up. "What?!"
Sugou laughed and stood, wincing at his arm. "You see… you had two rather annoying visitors in your hospital room yesterday. I must say the Black Swordsman and Archer aren't nearly as impressive as they were made out to be, that bratty archer even turned violent."
My chest stopped beating, I wanted to fire back with witty retorts to rile him up even more but… all I could do was force myself not to cry.
"Ak…Akira…" I said, saying his name and not wanting to believe it. "He… he's alive… you're lying! You're trying to rile me up, Akira he… he…"
"Oh believe me I wish that insufferable brat was in the ground," He said, taking a step towards me and leaning down. "But unfortunately, it seems Kayaba's system messed up, he is very much alive, along with your beloved swordsman, I told them about the date for our wedding! I even offered, to send them invitations for their trouble!"
I knew he thought he was trying to reverse the conversation, to get me riled up… and it may have worked normally, but not today.
Akira… Akira's alive, and he's with Kirito! They're together, they have each other and… that means one things.
I smiled, and this time, couldn't stop the tears from coming. "Kirito… and… and Akira… they're both together."
Sugou growled and turned away from me. "You seem to think that changes things Titania. I know exactly where those brats are, I sensed log ins with accounts similar to theirs only yesterday. I promise you they will be dealt with… and what in the hell do you think you're smiling about?!"
"Be…because you won't get away with this," I said, daring to smile and meet his eye. "Know why? Because… Kirito and Akira are going to come for me, they'll get me out of here, and then the three of us? We're going to expose everything you've done."
I didn't stare for long, turning my back to him, only seeing his reflection in the mirror.
Sugou laughed. "Ha… you seem very confident, I cannot wait to see that confidence crumble like sand beneath my feet… you won't have to wait long."
Go on… leave… go ahead… there it is.
I watched in the mirror as he punched in the code. The numbers were easy to memorize… now all I had to do was wait. I'd wait for his next visit, to confirm the code once more, and then I'd be able to get out. And now… now that I knew they were both out there, it only gave me more confidence.
I looked out the bars of my prisoner, and held my hands at my chest.
"Akira… you're alive, Kirito… you're both coming I know it," I said, letting the tears finally fall and smiling out at the clouds. "We promised… and I know you won't break it… now… come save me… please…"
INNOCENCE OP PLAYS
SAO, AKIRA'S ARROWS: FAIRY DANCE ARC
EPISODE 4: CAPTIVE QUEEN
Kirito
Despite how productive the previous night was, I found sleeping hard still. I groaned and rolled over in my bed, looking at the alarm clock. It read 6am, and that only made me roll my eyes. Somehow, I was wide awake. The previous night after we'd gotten home, my body must have not been used to the strain of VR and going for long walks like Sugu and I had to do when we had to go look for Akira. Still, I knew for a fact I wasn't falling back to sleep, I was far too anxious anyway.
Asuna… hang on, just a little bit longer.
I was going to get to her. Despite how I moved in VR the day before, I knew my real life body needed to get back to where it was before SAO as well. I was almost there, but not nearly as far along as Akira who was already starting to show effects of going to the gym every day.
"Well… if I'm up this early," I told myself, rolling out od bed and sliding on my slippers.
I knew around this time was when Akira was making himself coffee and getting ready to leave for the gym, so I made my way towards the door and the steps. Sugu would be taking off from her morning warm-ups since she had school today, so I tip-toed past her room to not wake her up.
Today was the start of a long day. The night before, Akira and I had planned the day out after Sugu had gone to bed. After he got back from the gym, I'd go and see Asuna for a bit by myself, since he'd gotten himself banned from the hospital. After that, we'd wait for Sugu to get home to make sure she had lunch, before we dived into ALO again. At around 6pm, Akira had plans to go over the Tanaka's house to get he and his sisters' old things.
After he'd asked… I was both happy and a bit scared. Ever since I'd known him, Akira had been one to bottle up emotions. Being his best-friend, I knew how they were really affecting him. I saw how his smile often didn't reach his eyes, especially since we'd been back. He even did it back in Aincrad. After Asuna and I had saved him from Laughing Coffin on Floor 19, he'd done his absolute best to put others before himself.
It was an admirable quality, one that I loved most about my friend… someone I considered my brother now. But still, Asuna and I both knew he couldn't keep it up forever.
I wish you were here Asuna… you'd know what to say to him, I thought as I got to the bottom of the steps. I'm useless for him by myself… but I'll do my best, and together we'll find you.
I knew that going to the Tanaka's would be what's best for Akira. Despite the fact we knew Asuna didn't have long… I knew she'd tell me to do this for Akira, to help him, so that's what I was going to do. He'd saved me, done more for me then almost anyone, it was the least I could do for him now.
I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, as I made my way towards the kitchen, hearing the coffee maker whirring like usual.
"Huh, Kirito? What are you doing up so early," Akira said, as I saw him turn, already dressed in his workout uniform, an old backpack strapped to his back.
He wore a tight black underarmor long sleeve, and a white t-shirt under an unzipped jacket with a pair of headphones hanging around his neck. It made me slightly jealous, it was the perfect outfit for a morning jog and work out.
But the craziest part was he probably got up even earlier then this.
I yawned and walked up to the counter with him. "I couldn't really sleep, I got a few hours in, but I won't fall back asleep anyway."
I reached up for another coffee cup, as Akira took the pot of coffee and poured some into a thermos and then some into the cup I had.
"Mhm, well at least you got a few hours in," He said, dumping some sugar and pouring almond milk into his thermos. "We have a long day today, we'll need to be in top shape."
"Yeah… we do," I said, drinking some of the coffee and meeting my friends eyes. "And… what about you? Sugu and I will be there the whole time but… are you sure you're ready?"
Akira paused for a moment, running a hand through his blonde hair before turning and smiling at me with a wave of his hand.
"Oh, you don't gotta worry about me, it'll be quick, in and out," He said. "We should worry more about what to do in ALO. Leafa can help us get some gear, after that we'll need to race to the World Tree."
"Right…" I told him. "I think we can trust Leafa completely she didn't seem deceiving in any way, but we still need to be careful, there's no telling if Sugou detected out accounts."
"We'll be careful not to cause trouble then," He said, twisting the lid onto his thermos and turning from me. "I think I'll skip the run today and take the bus to save some energy. I'll be back a little earlier, do you want anything for break-."
"Wait! Akira," I said, remembering why I really hadn't gone to bed. I grabbed his arm and turned him back around to face me and sighed. "I… was wondering, do you mind waiting for me to get dressed so I can come with you today?"
That got a strange look out of him.
"You… wanna come to the gym with me?" He said skeptically. "Kirito, the last time you did you fell asleep on the bike."
"That was an accident! I can make it an entire workout this time I promise," I said, rubbing the back of my head. "Besides, I can't fall too far behind you now, can I?"
He looked skeptical still, but eventually smiled and nodded. "Well, as long as you're sure. It's actually good if you come, I'm meeting up with Mito and Argo there, to I think they're almost ready to help us out."
That peaked my interest. Having a party of three was good, but if we could get Mito and Argo in our team, combined with Leafa's knowledge of the game then it'd only get us to the World Tree faster. Mito was one of the best players in SAO, and Argo could get information from anywhere or anyone.
"That'll be a big help," I said, determined now. "Alright Akira, I'll show you just how much progress I've made in my physical therapy!"
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Gahhhhhh! It… it's too heavy! Akira!" I yelled, every fiber in my muscles screaming at me to give them a break.
Akira who was standing above me sighed. "Kirito… that's only the bar, there's no weight on the ends."
"How heavy is it?!"
"40 pounds."
"Wrong… wrong metric system!" I yelled back at him.
"Sorry… about 18 kilos I mean."
Only 18 kilos?! Dammit… I was in over my head for real.
"Gahhhhhh help!" I asked Akira again, who scoffed and seemed amused before he picked the bar up from my hands and put it back on the rack of the bench-press.
The weight leaving my hands both relieved and embarrassed me… maybe it was time for me to start coming with Akira regularly. I had worked out by myself while he went to a martial arts lesson with what could only be described as the biggest man I'd ever seen, the gym owner's son Gyu. Still, I'd made it an hour and a half with him, which was my only real goal in the first place.
Still… the fact we had an audience didn't help.
"Bahahaha, you're losing your touch Ki-boy!" Argo-or Hosaka- laughed, sitting on the bench next to us.
Mito who I thought, would be on my side, laughed as well. "Haha, what would Asuna say now? Didn't your swords weigh that much back in SAO?"
"Maybe…" I mumbled at them, before Akira finally sat down on the bench next to me.
"Okay, as funny as Kirito's fail is, we need to discuss more important things," He said, as Mito and Argo pulled their bench closer to us so the four of us could talk without anyone overhearing.
Mito was the first to speak. "Akira's right, so on my end, I dived in yesterday as soon as I got home. It… was hard putting the Nerve Gear back on, but for Asuna I'm ready to do anything."
Argo nodded in agreement. "Mi-chan's right," she looked up with her signature smirk. "On my end, I picked a Cat-sith and got dropped right into their territory. I started getting my network together in the few hours I played last night, already got stuff flowing in."
"Did you both get your old SAO stats again like we did?" I asked them both, my arms still recovering from my excursion.
Mito nodded. "I did. I picked an imp, I found a scythe and did some grinding, but I found my skills were already high enough for even better items."
"Did you pick an imp because they got the same color hair?" Akira asked her cheekily.
Mito got red for a minute. "No! Don't judge me like you two didn't pick Spriggans for the black clothes!"
Argo laughed. "Ahaha, I knew The Black Storm Duo would stick!"
Akira rolled his eyes. "Yeah… guess you were right. Either way, I changed my character's name like I told you I would. My names Archer, and Kirito is the same."
I rolled my eyes at his name again. I knew he liked the Fate series, but the name seemed a bit on the nose to me. Either way, our names didn't matter, all that did was getting to the World Tree.
That didn't stop Mito and Argo for both laughing.
"HAHA, you really named yourself after a Fate character?!" Argo said, holding his side.
"The Black Archer would have just been shortened anyway…" Akira grumbled, his face getting red.
Mito laughed and shook her head. "Oh come on Argo, I think it's adorable, you really like your nickname don't you 'Archer'."
Akira got red, and I couldn't help but smile. Asuna and I had both been able to tell even back in SAO, that Mito clearly had a massive crush on Akira. We'd noticed it from the first meeting we all had together. Back in the real world now, it looked like it was the same. Mito-or Misumi- hadn't stopped looking at him the entire meeting either.
I didn't know what Akira felt for her, I knew he cared for her a lot, but I didn't know if he was ready for any kind of relationship. We had far too much going on now, and I knew his focus like mine was getting to Asuna first, we'd worry about the rest later.
"Okay, okay enough laughing at me," Akira said, calming everyone down. He sighed and looked over towards Mito and Argo. "Kirito and I are going to party up with a guide. Her name's Leafa a sylph, she's going to lead us to the World Tree. When you all log in later, send us friend requests and a message, we'll all meet up."
Mito nodded. "Okay, I have an appointment with my therapist, and physical therapy later, I'll be on later tonight."
"And I'll log in later too, and get to work," Argo said confidently. "I'll see what I can dig up about the World Tree and this 'Grand Quest'. I already got something in the works now, just gotta confirm it."
I looked at Argo, shocked. "You move as fast as ever Argo, what did you hear?"
Argo crossed her arms and nodded. "You bet I do, the faster you move the faster you make money! But for us… here's what I got. Heard some whispers from the higher up in the Cat Siths, that they're negotiating an alliance with the sylphs. You said your new party member is a sylph right? Maybe you could figure something out from her, it's only rumors though, I need time to confirm."
I couldn't help but smile, I could remember what Leafa said the day before. The theory was you needed two races combined to get to the World Tree's summit… if this was true, Argo may have just thrown us our best lead to get to Asuna.
"You're the best Argo!" I said excitedly, the shred of hope I had igniting further.
Argo looked bashful for once. "Ha… it's nothing solid like I said, I'll see if I can confirm it later."
"Alright!" Akira said, smiling as he pounded a fist into his hand. "It looks like we have a plan, the two of you just be careful with what you do, don't draw too much attention. We got no idea if that bastard Sugou can see us, stay quiet until we get to the World Tree. We're going to save Asuna!"
"He's right!" I said, standing up now, looking at Mito and Argo both. "Thank you both… really, your support means everything to me…"
Argo stood up and punched my arm. "Anything for you and A-chan Ki-boy!"
"She's right, we're friends, it's what friends do," Mito said, before she pulled out her phone and then smiled at us. "My mom's asking for me back, I need to get going, I'll see you both later tonight in the game, I'll send a message when I'm making my way to you."
Argo nodded and stood as well. "I need to head out too, I'll catch up with you lot later! Don't worry Ki-boy, A-chan will be out in no time!"
The two walked towards the entrance to the gym… and for the first time, I really was completely confident we'd accomplish what we were setting out to do. Of course, even if it had just been me, I wouldn't have stopped, there's no way I was going to stop until Asuna was back with me again. She was what mattered, what made me keep going every day.
Well, her and my other family.
"I'm really happy I ran into them," Akira said, looking back over at me. "This will expedite the process a lot."
I laughed, my chest tingling as I looked at him. "Thank you… Akira, really, I… I don't know if I would be able to do this on my own."
Akira scoffed and stood up in front of me. "Please, Kirito you're the toughest guy I know. Even if we weren't here, you'd be heading furlong into the World Tree until you found a way. Having us is just a bonus. Still… I won't back down, I'll be here for you every step of the way."
He held out his fist… but that wasn't enough. I had never been good with words when I was younger, and sometimes that was still the case. I still had so much growing to do… but having people with me while I did helped. Now it was Akira… and soon it'd be Asuna again.
I reached up and hugged him. Akira scoffed and hugged me back. "Don't worry… we'll get her back, I promise."
"I know… we will," I said, pulling back and holding onto his shoulders. "And remember too Akira… I'm here for you too, me and Sugu both, we won't leave you alone for a second tonight."
Akira stiffened for a minute, and tried to change the subject. "That… that's not really a big deal Kirito, like I said, we'll be in and out-."
"No, we won't be," I told him firmly, meeting his eyes. "Akira… this is important for you. I know you've been holding everything in for my sake, for Asuna's sake, but what do you think she'd say if she were here?"
Akira's eyes fell, I saw his one hand start to shake. "Kirito I… I had an anxiety attack in that manga store last night."
My eyes widened. "What? Why didn't you call me, or Sugu we would have-."
"I… I didn't want to bother you guys with it," He said, not looking at me again. "You both don't need to-."
"Yes… we do. I'm sick of you saying you don't want to 'bother' us," I told him, managing to smile myself. "You live with us, you're our family now Akira, you've been my brother for months. We're here for you, like you are for us. It's okay for you to be weak around us. I know I've been doing the same for you."
Akira floundered for a minute, before I even saw a tear come down his eye. Quickly, he let out a breath, his body un-tensing as he did.
Finally, he sighed and looked at me with watery eyes and nodded, smiling. "Thanks… Kirito."
"Of course," I said, smirking, before reaching over and grabbing him into a headlock. "Now stop being stubborn and tell me about that girl you met last night!"
"Huhhhhh?! What?! You SAW me with her?!" He said, trapped under my arm as I rubbed the top of his head.
"Of course i did idiot, my sense of direction isn't that bad!" I told him, as he wrestled to try and get out of my grip. "I saw you hit her with the door and go to the ice cream shop with her, I led Sugu away to give you time to talk to her!"
"Wh…what?! Why would you do that," He said, trying to push my arms off him.
"Ha, a lot of good those gym muscles are doing you now!" I told him, as people were starting to stare at us now. "I led her away because her seeing you having ice cream with a cute girl might have given her an anxiety attack!"
"What?! Why would she be freaked out at that," He said, finally pushing me off him. "I was just talking and apologizing to her! Why would Sugu have a problem with that?"
I sighed, disappointed in him, before turning and mumbling. "And you call me a dense anime protagonist… I'm starting to wonder which of us really is."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Suguha
"Okay… just to the World Tree, that's it, then I leave the party…" I kept telling myself over and over again as I jogged towards kendo practice. Still, despite telling myself that, my chest was a whirling, thumping mess. "Oh man… what am I gonna do with Akira, it's sweet he asked me to come help him, but… but does that really mean-."
"LEAFA!"
"GAHHH!" I yelled, my hand going to the shinai on my back, before realizing with much annoyance who had scared the crap out of me. "Dammit Nagata, I thought I told you not call me that at school didn't I?"
Dealing with Nagata was the last thing that I needed right now. School had dragged on that day, and now I had to get to practice. It was Akira's turn to make dinner, and I wasn't missing out on that. On prepping for dinner with him, or his food. I hadn't believed Kazuto when he told me Akira was an excellent cook, but I was proved wrong really quick.
Nagata's head slumped. "You're right… sorry Suguha-."
"Idiot!" I yelled, going for my shinai.
"I-I mean Kiriguya!" He quickly corrected himself.
My anger boiled down for a moment. Nagata, I considered a friend in a way, but not nearly enough of one to call me by my first name. Only a few people out of my family did, Akira being one of them. I would never forget when he first called me by my first name, he had done it right away by accident, but I hadn't minded at all.
His face last night popped into my head… it was like the day the woman from the morgue had come to ask him about his sisters funeral. I'd not seen him so vulnerable before, and of course I didn't even have to think twice before helping him. I felt so helpless to help him and my brother all other times, the least I could do now, was help him move some of his old things.
But before I could do any of that I needed to get to practice, and Nagata was in the way.
"What are you even doing here Nagata? You got a release from taking the High School entrance exams, they're not making you come anyway are they?" I asked him.
Nagata nervously shook his head. "No, that's not it Sug-."
"What?!" I growled, going for my shinai again.
"Nothing! No, Kiriguya!" He corrected again. "I just needed to talk to you so I've been waiting all morning…"
I sighed, I couldn't believe it. He could have just called me or texted. After practice I already had to begin thinking about what I'd do with Archer and Kirito in game. I knew they needed new gear, nothing fancy since they didn't seem to need it, but still, showing newbs around the game took some planning. And I was excited for it.
It'd been a while since I had a new party, especially one so interesting.
"Wait… you're not here for the exams are you?" Nagata asked.
I shook my head. "No the advisor for the kendo club asked me here, that's why I came. So, what is it that you wanted?"
Nagata adjusted his glasses. "Well… it's Sigurd and the others, they all wanted to go hunting again this afternoon."
I mentally rolled my eyes, I should have guessed. Sigurd would be a problem, I'd deal with him later.
"Sorry, I won't be going out with those guys for a while," I told them. I could rejoin or leave whenever I want, that was what Sigurd said, and even if he hadn't, I didn't particularly care.
I'm going to help them. Kirito… and… Archer.
I mentally slapped myself like I'd been doing whenever I thought of him.
"Wait what?! Why not?" He asked.
I shook my head. "I got plans to head over to Arun, that's why."
"A-Arun?! That's at the base of the World Tree," He said, realization dawning on him. "Wait, you're not going with those Spriggans?! "
I got a bit flustered and nodded. "Well… it's a long story, I'm going to show them both how to get there."
That was it, nothing more… I would get them there, and finally be able to help people.
"But… but have you thought about what you're going Leaf-."
"Nagata!" I yelled, narrowing my eyes again.
"K…Kiriguya!" He corrected himself again. "But Arun is so far away! And… and you'll have to sleep near each other! And… and you didn't notice but I did! That one with the green eyes! He… he was looking at you a lot, you'd have to sleep next to-."
"GahhhhH! Don't get the wrong idea you jerk!" I yelled, grabbing the shinai and jabbing him in the stomach with the end of it.
What was he thinking?! And worse, why was I already thinking about that?!
Was… was Archer really… no, no it's just stupid Nagata's imagination!
Besides, we were all avatars in the game anyway, nothing could happen, I didn't want anything to happen…. I didn't fully understand my feelings, but one thing I knew was… that I wanted Akira to find room in his heart for me. Kazuto had stupidly seemed to see how I felt, which I didn't know what to do about. Could I ask him to help me? Would he even do that?
There were far too many questions now… so I'd just keep doing what I could. Archer was just someone I met in the game, that was all.
Nagata yelped and grabbed him stomach, and I went to walk past him. "I'm only taking them to the World Tree, but it'll be a few days. Tell Sigurd and the others I said hey alright, see ya!"
Before he could say anything else, I jogged past him towards the kendo dojo, my face getting redder as I did.
Welcome to our party Leafa! It's an exclusive club, you should feel honored!
"Okay… let's see what joining your party will be like," I said, unable to keep the smile from my face.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Suguha/Leafa
"I'm just showing them the way… that's all I'm doing," I said, my hands clutched at my chest.
I had already tossed my school uniform aside and pulled out an oversized shirt. After school I was treated to an exceptional lunch of curry over rice, which Akira said was simple, but had always been his sisters favorite so he thought I'd like it as well. Kazuto and I scarfed it down, and I had learned that they both had gone to the gym today. Akira even asked me if I wanted to come with him when I next had time.
He really is thoughtful… I said, smiling at the thought. The idea of going and seeing his old home, the Tanaka's, being able to finally help him, to be of use to him and in turn my brother… it was exciting. Of course, the Mr. Tanaka I'd met going to Kya's grave with him was a jerk, but still, I'd need to let Kirito and Archer know from the start I'd need to log off for an hour or two.
After eating, Kazuto and Akira both retreated up to their rooms like I had. They said they'd be in Kazuto's room doing some research, on what I didn't want to ask, but I knew they'd be occupied for a few hours at the least. They said they'd come get me from my 'studying', later.
A part of me wanted to tell the two of them about ALO, they were powerful in SAO according to what Akira said, perhaps they'd be able to help me assist Archer and Kirito. But… I couldn't ask them to put on their Nerve Gears, or even an amusphere. I also didn't know if I wanted them too… of course it was supposedly safe now, but the idea was bone chilling for me, losing them both.
So, I patted my cheeks and fell into my bed, grabbing the amusphere.
"Okay… let's go," I said with a deep breath, looking at Leafa above my bed. "Alright, Link Start!"
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
I hadn't seen either Archer or Kirito at the in in Swilvane at first, so I decided to do some shopping for gear and extra potions, along with revival items. I also scouted out the best weapon and armor shops to take them too. After being satisfied, I made my way back to the inn to wait, but I ended up not even having to sit down.
The minute I walked in, I saw two blue bits of data materialize, as the two Spriggans appeared at seats. Kirito was the first to notice me.
"Hey! Sorry we're late, had to clean up at home," He said, standing up and rolling his eyes at his friend. "Archer here makes a hell of a mess when he cooks."
"At least I can cook," Archer said, annoyed at him. "You can't do anything more than boil udon."
"That's not true!" Kirito argued back.
Before they could start arguing, which I could tell they probably did a lot like Kazuto and Akira did despite basically being brothers, I stepped in.
"Ha, well I'm sure you're both equally dirty after meals," I said to them with a smile. "I was just scouting out some shops for us to hit before we leave."
Archer smiled. "I hope you weren't waiting long."
"No, not at all! I had to get some supplies anyway," I told them. "What about the two of you, where do you wanna hit first?"
"Well, I think it should be the weapon shop," Kirito said, looking at the tiny sword on his back. "I don't think this will cut it for very long."
"Yeah," Archer agreed right away. "I need to get my hands on a bow."
I laughed. "Ha, are you that bad with a sword?"
Kirito laughed and Archer got red. "No, I'm not that bad, you can ask my wise and powerful sensei Kirito here, he trained me."
Kirito finished laughing. "He's right, he isn't bad at all, just needs some polish. Still, you haven't seen half of what he can do, doesn't matter what weapon he's up against, all he needs is his bow and at least one arrow."
"Aw, you're making me blush," Archer teased, punching him in the arm.
I laughed at them… was I really in for this all trip? If so, I could get used to it. Who knew, maybe even after getting to the World Tree, I'd have a new permanent party if this was any indication.
"Haha, well, I know a great weapon shop, but it is kinda pricey," I told them. "What's your money situation like?"
I saw them both open their menus, and Archer spoke first.
"This stuff called yuld? That's money, right?" He asked. "I got a few thousand."
"Same here, will that be enough?" Kirito asked.
I nodded, excited now. "If you're willing to cheap out on the armor, it can get you a decently high skilled bow and sword. Or if you guys need, I can lend you some money for now."
Archer smiled again, an excited look to his face. "Alright, if we need to borrow anything I promise we'll pay you back twice as much!"
I tried not to laugh at how cute I found his enthusiasm, but I couldn't do it. Kirito rolled his eyes but smiled at him, nodding my way as well.
"Archer's right, we'll pay you back double," He said, smiling and looking at his pocket. "Well, I guess we should get going, come on Yui, time to wake up."
I almost jumped. I completely forgot about the adorable pixie they both had accompanying them. I still had no idea why she called them, 'Daddy' and 'Big Brother', but it was cute, so I didn't complain. If I really wanted to know I could figure out later.
Yui's tiny head popped out of Kirito's coat pocket with a yawn and stretched, smiling up at them both and even looking at me.
"Good morning Daddy! Big Brother," She said. "And you too Ms. Leafa!"
"Good morning!" I said, turning to head towards the door. "Alright, let's go."
"Wait! One second, Kirito and I needed to let you know something," Archer said, as the two walked to the door with me. "The two of us can stay on for a few hours, but a little before six, we'll need to log off for an hour or two, we have an errand we need to run."
"Yeah, an important one," Kirito added, as I noticed Archer getting a bit quieter when mentioning whatever it was, they had to do. "We'll log right back on when we're done."
I looked at Archer's head having fallen as we stepped outside. I wanted to ask what was wrong but I also didn't want to pry. In the back of my head, I didn't mind at all, it was a bit of luck actually they said that.
"Oh, don't worry at all," I said, laughing at the coincidence. "I actually have an errand I need to run around then too. We can find an NPC village and log out safely while we go and then we'll meet back up!"
Archer seemed to breath a sigh of relief. "Oh thank god. I'm sorry for holding us up."
"Don't apologize!" I said, feeling more cheerful then I had in weeks. "Come on, let's go head to the shop!"
The two both smiled, and fist bumped, before they came to follow me. Swilvane was a mess of activity, sylphs of every shape and size passed us on the way through the busy streets. The whole time I noticed the two Spriggans next to me looking in awe at the colors and buildings. They had said they played a game like this before, an old MMORPG I had to guess, or some other kind of VR fighting game. The skill I saw on display from them the day before was something only veterans of the genre could pull off. They moved so effortlessly and attacked relentlessly like their lives depended on it.
Maybe they can teach me a thing or two, I thought as we got to my preferred weapon shop. Right away the two of them went about exploring the shops inventory, as I tried to remember more about what I'd seen from them the day before. I remembered Archer had mentioned how he also shot arrows in the real world, and I wondered if he was like Akira and did it every morning. Akira had promised to teach me how to shoot as well, so that'd been why I had a bow in my inventory, I hoped to train in game before that.
Perhaps Archer could teach me, or I could pick up some tips at the least before Akira did bring me to the bow range. Kirito didn't take long to pick out a sword, and some armor to go along with it. He replaced the smaller jacket with a simple long, black cloak before a sword dropped into his hands, a massive black iron greatsword which I thought right away had to be too heavy for a new player like him.
I was proved wrong a minute later when he effortlessly swung it around a few times, and next to me Archer chuckled.
"Ha… always showing off," He said, and I turned to see him examining a bow. "Mhm… do you have anything bigger? A long bow, most damage possible."
"You know, a long bow is harder to firer faster, wouldn't a short bow be better?" I asked him, taking from my very, very limited knowledge of archery in the game.
Archer smirked as if he was happy I asked, as a new massive bow dropped into his hands. The thing was at least as tall as he was, and had to have a high strength requirement to even pull the string back. Once again, I was proved wrong right away when Archer held up the bow and drew the string all the way back to his cheek with ease.
"You see, when it comes to bows, draw strength really just comes from technique," He explained, grabbing one of the practice and showing me the back end of it. "See how there's this space just after the fletching?"
"The… fletching is that what the feathers are called?" I asked, clueless now.
He chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, but you see this space after it. Hold it with two fingers, lay the front out on your hand holding the the bow to knock, use your two fingers holding the back to hold the arrow in place and pull back the string. It may sound confusing, but so long as your drawing technique is good, you don't really notice the draw weight."
"O…kay," I said, shaking my head. "But still, what if you're in close combat, won't a bow that long just get in your way?"
He shook his head, running his hand up the black bow. "In the last game I played, my bow had a special skill that allowed it to double as a two-handed weapon, it had two spikes on the ends here and here. It becomes easier with practice."
I remembered seeing him use the bow in closer range the night before, but I never knew it could be even more versatile then that. After drawing the string back one more time to his cheek, Archer smiled and turned to the shopkeeper.
"Alright, I'll take it!" He said, finishing the transaction and using up the rest of his money.
Like Kirito, he had opted for simple armor. It was small bits of leather along the arms, and a chest-piece held together across his chest, he had on simple sturdy black boots and pants. It wasn't much in terms of protection, but he would be able to move extremely easily in it. He finished the look off with a cloak around his neck, unlike Kirito's it wasn't a longer coat with arm sleeves, just something he had tied around his neck.
He looked like an archer, true to his name.
After finishing the transaction, he turned and smiled. "Alright, all set to go! Hey, Kirito you done ogling your new sword yet?"
"Soon as you're done stroking the new bow we can leave," Kirito yelled back with an eye roll, but smirked when he looked at his friend. "You gonna fight without any arrows?"
Archer's eyes went wide. "Crap…"
I realized it as well, he'd completely forgotten the arrows. He turned back to the shop and looked pulled up its menu, looking at the selection. His eyes went wide as all the arrows scrolled out before him, and his head turned to me.
"Are these… elemental arrows?!" He said, sounding more excited then I'd seen him yet.
I looked at him with a titled head. "Yes… they work like magic, except you don't need to chant a spell. They're extremely versatile, and not that expensive, the higher your magic and archery skill, the more damage they do with more effects."
Archer was practically drooling, but then his face fell. "Um… Leafa… could I maybe… well… you know…."
I laughed at him. He reminded me of Akira when he asked Kazuto or me for money to go and get groceries or pay for a bus. I didn't think twice before smirking at him and pulling up my menu.
"What was it we said yesterday? It's the princess's turn to swoop in and save the prince," I said, walking to the vendor, and picking out a good amount of the three main kinds of elemental arrows, fire, ice, and lightning, in addition to regular arrows. "Except this time, she's saving your wallet."
Kirito laughed, and Archer clapped his hands together and bowed.
"Thank you Leafa! I swear, I'll pay you back every bit times two!" He said, as the arrows were transferred to my inventory, and I turned to him.
"Haha, it's no problem really, here," I said, transferring them to him. "You just gotta promise to show me what a master archer can do with them alright?"
"Ha… I think I can do that," He said, blushing a bit as he pressed a button on his menu, and the quiver of regular arrows appeared slung horizontally across his back, his blackwood longbow slung over his shoulder.
"No sword?" Kirito asked, coming up to us.
"Nah, I'll just use the starter one if I have too," Archer said, before looking between us. "You guys ready to go? Where are we heading Leafa?"
The two Spriggans looked at me and I smiled, turning to the takeoff tower.
"Right there! It's where we can take off into the sky and start heading north," I said, turning and smirking at Archer who was already going pale. "That is if poor Archer can fly. You could always run like you said!"
Kirito started laughing again and Archer shuddered. "I've come to grips with it, I'll just keep my eyes closed and have Yui tell me where to go."
"You can count on me Big Brother!" Yui said, popping up from Kirito's pocket and flying to Archer's shoulder.
Archer sighed in relief and patted the pixies head with his finger. "At least someone cares about my sanity."
Kirito and I both laughed with Yui, before we all turned to head towards the tower. As we walked, I looked up into the top left window of my HUD, and saw their two HP bars right beneath mine. I had been used to seeing several more then that, a party much, much bigger. However, my old party could never have done the things I saw the two Spriggans pull off last night. I had almost felt bad for the Salamanders after Archer had fired his first arrow.
Still… they just need a guide, that's it, maybe I can get stronger from it… and I'll finally be able to help someone!
Despite the two of them joking and laughing next to me, I could remember that look on their faces from the day before, after mentioning how they needed to get to the World Tree. They sounded like it was life and death for whoever they searched for. That made me wonder what errand they needed to run that was so important. In the end I decided not to pry, as we got closer to the tower. If they wanted to tell me they would, I had to leave at that same time too, I wouldn't let Akira down.
Besides, I couldn't go telling my real-life business to two strangers, despite how fond I was getting of them both. I'd just be there guide and new party member, and in the process, I'd finally feel like I was doing good for people I cared about. I was powerless to do anything for Kazuto or Akira, but I would do all I could for Kirito and Archer.
I looked at Archer on my left out the corner of my eye, as he joked with Kirito and Yui. Kirito… Archer, maybe you'll both finally be the ones to help me become truly strong.
"Leafa!" An annoyed voice said, as we just got to the front of the takeoff tower.
My eyes widened before I rolled them, you have got to be kidding me…
The last person I wanted to see then was Sigurd. He was one person I knew took this game far too seriously. I understood wanting to roleplay in game, wanting to be as strong as possible, I really did, but I couldn't stand how he tried to control people in the party. I had only joined due to Recon getting me in, and I knew for a fact Sigurd only accepted me at first due to being a girl. Even after I beat him in duels, the man still treated me and other members like property.
Recon at least did what I said and told him I was leaving. Still, I guessed I should have been prepared for him to come find me. He tended top throw fits when he didn't get what he wanted.
"Hello Sigurd," I said, crossing my arms, Archer and Kirito on both sides of me. The two seemed to be veteran gamers, for now at least I saw they seemed to understand what was happening.
"What's this I hear about you leaving the party?" He asked, his voice annoyed. "Is that true?"
My voice died a bit. "Well… yes, it is."
"Do you have any idea how much that'll upset the other members?" He snapped.
Now my own annoyance shot up. "You said I only had to join when I had the time, and also said I could quit whenever I wanted too!"
"Yes, yes I know what I said, but you've been with us a while now, everyone knows you," He said, taking another step closer, two more players flanking him. "If you do this now it'll damage the reputation of the whole party!"
I hesitated for a minute, I didn't particularly care what happened with the party. I knew most of them just liked having a girl in the party and that was why they kept me around, despite the fact I was better then pretty much all of them. Threats wouldn't work on me, and Sigurd knew that, so I didn't understand why he was trying.
For a minute I tried to formulate a response, I knew Sigurd had a short temper, and I didn't wanna set it off. I wasn't afraid of him of course, I just didn't wanna sour the mood before Kirito, Archer and I took off. Especially in the middle of such a crowded area with everyone watching. I wanted to explore outside sylph territory but I still didn't want to look like a hothead to everyone here.
Sigurd scoffed. "Stop this foolishness Leafa, you-."
"Party members aren't items," Kirito suddenly said, and his tone took on one I hadn't heard up until this point. I looked next to me, and both he and Archer had narrowed eyes at Sigurd.
That look in their eye… I've never seen that before, I said, my eyes widening. The jovial, goofy Spriggans glares could cut through stone.
Sigurd looked shocked. "What the hell did you just say to me?"
"He didn't stutter, maybe you're just too old to hear him right," Archer said, stepping forward in front of Kirito, right up in front of Sigurd, Kirito flanking him from behind. If I had to guess, the two clearly had done this before.
"What?! You Spriggan trash who do you think you are?!" Sigurd demanded.
Archer scoffed. "Names Archer, this here is Kirito. Kirito, why don't you explain in simple terms what you said for him?"
Sigurd was angry, I could see it. But before he could say anything, Kirito spoke.
"Party members aren't items," Kirito said again, slower this time. "So don't expect them to be on call for you, they're not your armor, not your sword, not your equipment."
"You son of a…." Sigurd growled, reaching and grabbing the hilt of his sword. "I bet that big mouth got you both kicked out of your territory! Let's see what you got you piece of Spriggan trash, which one of you wants to be cut down first?!"
I was going to cut in, but Archer laughed from his gut.
"Ahahaha, you're a funny guy," he said, stepping even closer to Sigurd with no fear, his arms crossed as he met his eyes. "I'll take you on right now, you can even make the first move, go on."
"You idiot! You can't harm me in my own territory, but I can cut down your HP as much as I want you piece of garbage," Sigurd yelled back.
Archer held his hands behind his head. "Gotta hit me to do that-."
"NO SIGURD!" I yelled, as I saw the sword flash, I went to run forward but saw neither Kirito or Archer seemed panicked.
Sigurd's sword flashed as he tried to slice upwards at Archer right from drawing his blade. Archer saw it coming, stepping to the side with blinding speed. He grabbed Sigurd's now outstretched arm and slammed his elbow into the crook of Sigurd's elbow. Sigurd yelled, and dropped his sword. Archer caught it with a waiting hand, and the minute Sigurd tried to move, his own sword was in Archer's hand, pointed at his neck.
It all happened in about five seconds. Kirito laughed behind him, as Archer let go of the furious Sigurd's arm, and shoved him back, tossing his sword to the ground.
"Feel free to try again," Archer said, turning to Kirito. "Wanna try Kirito this time? Heads up, he's even better at close range then I am."
"Bet I could do it faster," Kirito said, his voice dark a smirk on his face.
"You… you bastards!" Sigurd said, scooping up his sword again.
"ENOUGH!" I yelled, making Sigurd stop, stepping between Kirito and Archer now. "Archer and Kirito are my new partners, I won't let you harass them!"
"What?!" Sigurd demanded, his pride obviously hurt. "Leafa you're abandoning us to party with renegades like them?!"
Kirito and Archer didn't know what that meant, so they looked confused, but words left my mouth before they could ask. I'd already made up my mind.
"That's right! And I'm not coming back ever, so just deal with it!" I yelled at him.
"You fool…" Sigurd said, holding up his sword again. "I don't give a damn about you two buzzing around my party members, but stealing one it-."
"We're not stealing anything asshole," Archer said, glaring at Sigurd. "Leafa made it clear that she doesn't want to be in your party anymore. She's partied up with Kirito and me now, learn to deal with it."
Sigurd pointed his sword towards Archer, furious. "Don't think you can just waltz into another races territory you damn fool! I'll cut you down in a real duel, you can't take my party-."
"She said, she's not your party member anymore," Archer said, stepping forward, the sword poking his chest, his eyes on fire. "She's a member of my party now, and I don't let people mess with my party members. If you keep on harassing her, I'll humiliate you in front of every single person in this town."
"I'd listen if I were you," Kirito said, his voice equally as fiery. "Archer doesn't get angry often, but when he does… he doesn't miss, ever."
"You… you dirty little-." Sigurd said, going to rear his sword back.
My hand shot to my sword, ready to intercept. Archer and Kirito couldn't do harm to Sigurd here, but I could intercept and help them.
One of Sigurd's followers stopped him first. "Sigurd… we can't do this here! If we gank these guys in front of everyone we'll look horrible!"
Sigurd growled and looked at the crowd of people around us. His party member was right, if they were seen ganging up on other players in a city, or worse getting embarrassingly beat by two random Spriggans, it would be a serious blow to Sigurd's party.
Seeing the situation, Sigurd scoffed and sheathed his blade. "Once you cross our borders, you better run and hide Leafa, I didn't expect you to betray me."
"Like Archer said, if you come after her, you'll have to deal with us," Kirito said, crossing his arms. "We don't let people mess with our party members."
"Ha… we'll see how that holds up soon enough," Sigurd said, turning and finally walking back towards town with his two followers in tow.
After he was a good distance away, a breath I'd been holding finally left me. I looked and saw both Archer and Kirito deflate like balloons. Archer turned around first, his normal cute smile back again.
"Ha, sorry if we made things worse," He said, sheepishly rubbing his head. "I don't like getting like that, but I hate people messing with my friends even more."
"Yeah, he's right," Kirito said. "We tend to get carried away."
I was speechless for a minute, but eyes went from Kirito to Archer. So quickly he'd turn to defend me, without even a second thought. We'd only met yesterday, and he had no reason to get so defensive of me, or Kirito… so why…?
I… guess that's just the kind of person he is, I thought, looking away from Archer, if I stared any longer, he'd think I was weird.
"No! Don't apologize," I assured them, sighing. "I'm sorry I got you dragged into all of that."
"It's okay really!" Archer said, smiling wide again. "We told you yesterday, didn't we? Being is an exclusive club with awesome perks! One of those, is we'll never leave you behind when you need something, you can count on us! Right Kirito?"
"Yeah, he's right. Especially since you're helping us get to the World Tree," Kirito said with a smile, before it faltered looking at me. "I'm more worried about you, are you… sure you wanna do this?"
I floundered for a second, unable to speak, my skin warm, my chest beating in a loud distinct thump.
You can count on us! I… didn't know how to respond, other then lowering my head to hide my blushing face, hearing Archer's words in my head. I didn't say anything at first, only walked behind them both, and with one hand each of their backs.
"Come on slow pokes… let's get moving," I said, trying to hide my massive smile. "Archer, if you don't take off Kirito and I are gonna throw you off the tower."
Kirito started laughing, and Archer winced.
"You're merciless Leafa," He shuddered, before looking at Kirito. "Yui! Yui, please help me."
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Archer
"Steady yourself! Come on, show me what that bow can really do," Leafa shouted from a short distance to my right, the cold air blowing her blonde ponytail to the side.
"Come on Archer joke times over! You can do this, come on!" Kirito shouted.
"Go left Big Brother! You can do it!" Yui shouted from my shoulder, floating next to me.
I… I think I'm gonna be sick, I thought, but I did as Yui said. I drifted left and heard the monster roaring from below. I spun and saw a hawk like monster with sharp teeth zipping towards me. I gritted my teeth and tried to balance in the air, reaching for the quiver on my back. Come on Akira, quite being pathetic, focus!
In Aincrad, when the time had come to fight the Skull Reaper, I hadn't hesitated. I'd leapt off Heathcliff's shield to unleash Hundred Arrow storm, so why was it so hard to fly now? The extended time in the air wasn't helping, and each time I went to turn with my wings to hold my bow up at the same time it only became harder. When I went to aim, I seemed to just be forgetting to keep the wings going, and that kept causing my shots to go off target when I tried to steady myself again.
"Come on… Come on! DAMMIT!" I yelled as I let my arrow fly. It zipped through the air, and with my wobbly hands it flew passed the demonic hawk.
I was fast enough to move out of the way of its attack. It snapped and went past me, right into Kirito who cut it apart with one attack from his new massive sword. Eventually I got control of myself in the air again, and hovered just below Kirito who waded into a new group of bee and bird like monsters who were in the air.
"Dammit… I'm going to be useless at this rate," I muttered to myself, looking down at the bow, and the forest of ALO below us. "I suppose I should just be happy I'm in the air at least."
I had gotten over the existential crisis of being in the air at all, and when it was an open sky in the few hours we'd been flying and landing in the woods. On the ground I was fine, but hunting these flying monsters was becoming a real problem. Annoyed, my fist shook around the black bow, I had been practically useless so far, leaving the mob killing to Leafa and Kirito.
I'll be no help to Asuna of anyone at this rate!
"Don't worry Big Brother!" Yui said, flying off my shoulder and hovering in front of me. "You'll get the hang of it soon, I know you will."
"Thanks Yui but…" I started, looking up at Kirito again, "I don't know. My bow… I just can't shoot it and focus on the wings at the same time. I can't use the controller, because then I can't use my bow."
Above me, Kirito finished off the last of the mobs, moving and swinging his sword with ease.
"It's easier for him and Leafa, a sword strike is easier to aim then an arrow, they don't have trouble attacking while moving," I told my AI little sister, chewing at my lip. "Me… I need to aim, adjust for wind and movement. I can do it but… not while focusing on that and my wings."
"I never took you for someone who moped when they can't get something done," Leafa joked, floating down next to me. "You'll get the hang of it, it just takes practice and time."
"That's the problem… I don't know how much more time we have," I said, looking off in the distance towards the World Tree.
Asuna… I can't help save you like this, I realized, my heart rate going up.
"Mhm… this person you're going to try and find, they're important to you right?" Leafa said, as I turned back around to see her meeting my eye.
I nodded and looked up at Kirito scanning for monsters. "Yeah… to both of us, even more so Kirito. But… I'm feeling pretty useless right now. I'm gonna have to accept most fights are going to be in the air."
"Yeah… you will," Leafa said, flying around back in front of me and smiling with Yui. "But we'll figure it out! Now, your problem is you're having trouble focusing on your shot while your controlling your wings right?"
Her smile was huge, and she was pretty close. She pumped her fists seemingly excited at the idea of helping me out. It… made me feel good, really good. I chuckled, and she held her hand to the chin to think.
"Now, from what I've seen your strongest attributes are your speed, and accuracy," Leafa mused, looking back at me. "At least until you get better at controlling your wings, you'll need to find a way steady yourself and focus just on shooting."
"Yeah, that seems to be the problem," I admitted sheepishly, getting flustered at her concern for me. "I can't seem to concentrate on firing my arrows and keeping control in the air at the same time. I promise I'm not normally this weak."
Leafa laughed while holding her stomach. "Haha don't say that dummy, I know how good you are, I've seen it! Now… what to do, what to do for you…"
My mouth opened and closed again, my face getting redder with my heart rate going up still. She'd been like this the entire trip so far, helpful, kind and funny. The main goal of this journey was to get to Asuna… but meeting someone like Leafa along the way was certainly a bonus, one I was thrilled about.
"Big Brother? Why is your face red?" Yui suddenly said, popping up in front of me. Her tiny eyes went wide and a smile came to her face. "Is it because you're so close to Ms. Leafa?!"
"Huh? What did you say Yui?" Leafa said turning around.
My eyes went wide with horror. "Yui quiet!"
"Huh? But why," Yui asked innocently, as Leafa looked at us. "I saw your face get red when you looked at mhmmmmm!"
I snatched her out of the air and stuffed her into my pocket, laughing nervously over at Leafa who looked confused. Yui wrestled in my armors pocket for a minute, before she seemed to understand I wanted her to be quiet for the moment.
Dammit Yui I love you but I really hope she didn't hear you say that.
Thankfully Leafa just scoffed a laugh. "Ha, you're a huge goofball too aren't you, not just Kirito."
"Ha… yeah, for sure, we alternate days of being the bigger one."
She laughed again and turned with me to look up at him. "You two… you really are something else aren't you?"
"We're not that special, believe me."
"I disagree," She said, with a determined smile again, looking at me. "Now, I think I have an idea for you! Hear me out okay, don't interrupt!"
I rubbed my head nervously. "Ha… okay, go ahead."
"Alright!" She said, pounding her fist into her hand. "Until you get better control of your wings, whenever you want to shoot at arrow, I want you to focus on just that! Don't worry about controlling your wings, stop using them and-."
"Huh?! You want me to just stop using them?" I cut her off in disbelief. "But how am I gonna stay in the air if I don't use them?!"
"I was getting there jerk, I said don't cut me off!" She pouted, her face red and lips pursed.
I held up my hands, still scared. "Sorry, sorry… so, go on."
"Right," She said, her smile coming back. "If you stop worrying about your wings, gravity and momentum will take your body whichever way you were flying. Can you shoot an arrow while falling or moving on the ground?"
I hesitantly answered. "Yeah… easy enough."
"This is the same! You won't be worried about your wings, you can focus on your shot!" She said, clearly proud of herself. "Then after you shoot, focus on flying again and making room for your next one! You're fast enough at shooting and moving, to where you can start going again before falling puts you in danger, and you'll be able to dodge attacks coming towards you!"
That… that actually makes sense, could… that work?
"Huh… I never would have thought of that," I told her, chuckling and smiling at how bright her face was, how proud she looked at her idea. "I'll give it a try, maybe-."
"ARCHER, LEAFA HEADS UP!" Kirito yelled from above, and that was when Leafa and I spun to see a swarm of bees and other insects swarming up from below.
"Archer, look out!" Leafa yelled, showing me to the side and ascending higher.
"Leafa!" I yelled back, as I flew away just as the swarm of about six monsters zipped by.
Instinctively, I grabbed an arrow, one of the fire arrows Leafa had bought me. I didn't know how high my magic skill could be, but after doing something like this for two years straight, I had it committed to memory.
"FIRE ARROW-. GAH!"
I started stumbling again as instinctively I started trying to control my wings. It made my bow and arrow start to wobble, but just before I let it go, I remembered what Leafa had just told me. Gritting my teeth, I looked up and saw the swarm descend on Leafa who waded into them with her swords, but still, Kirito was a good distance away, unable to help right away.
I… I'm The Black Archer of Aincrad! I won't let this game take that away!
"GAHH FIRE ARROW!" I yelled, stopping all the muscles going to my wings.
I started falling, and my eyes narrowed towards the swarm. The arrow fell right into my bow, and I yanked it back, adjusting for the wind I felt I fired. It zipped through the air in a fiery blaze and smashed into one of the bees, even going further and skewering another. Flames burst from them both and another caught fire, the swarm looked away from a confused Leafa and turned on me.
The remaining three turned, and as soon as they did, I activated my wings again. My hands tucked to my side, and I yelled before flying upwards. The wind blew against my face, as I flew at speeds, I didn't know were possible. Withing seconds I zipped past the bees and came out above them. I stopped my wings again, and like Leafa had said my sheer momentum carried me up still, and when I did, I pulled out another two arrows.
In quick succession I fired two shots, and both found home in the monsters. Their HP bars, dropped to zero, and only one remained. It closed in on me, and I activated my wings again, hoping that either Kirito was closer now, or Leafa could guess what I meant.
"SWITCH!" I yelled, ducking away from the last bee.
I flew to the left avoiding its attack, and luckily enough Kirito came flying in with his greatsword and cut it out of the sky.
Well, looks like our team work's still on point, glad to know he hasn't forgotten, I thought, breathing out a sigh of relief.
Kirito finished off the last of the swarm and turned back to me, a huge smile on his face.
"Ha, now that's the Archer I know, that was awesome man!" He said excitedly, high fiving me and pumping his fist. "I knew you'd get the hang of it."
"Ha… I guess I did, thanks to Leafa," I said, turning to see her floating towards us. "Thank you Leafa, you really saved me there, don't know what I'd have done if you hadn't come up with that idea."
I saw her smiling, and stutter for a minute, before nervously laughing. "Haha it's nothing really! I… I'm sure you would have thought of something, but we're a party like you said, I need to do my best to contribute."
"Believe me you're already doing so much just by taking us there," Kirito said, smiling at her as well. "We'd be lost so far if not for you."
"Ha… well you're welcome, both of you," She said, her smile coming back as she pumped her fist. "Alright, now our wings will need recharging soon, there's an NPC village with a cheap inn nearby. Do… either of you have the time?"
That almost made my wings stop for real. I'd gotten so enraptured in the game, gotten so caught up in leveling up my skills more and talking with Leafa and Kirito, I forgot about what I had to do back in the real world. What Kirito and Sugu had agreed to help me with. Even in the game, the hair on my arms stood up, a sense of dread washing over me.
I could picture the layout of the Tanaka household still in my mind. The large three story house, I could remember my bedroom, Aki's, Kya's, I remembered where all the closets bathrooms, what was in each kitchen cabinet. I still had at least one or two dozen boxes left. Mrs. Kiriguya had said she'd even take some time off work to meet us there, so we could fit everything into her car. Another thing the Kiriguya's did for me.
It was odd, since I still didn't feel like I deserved it. Every part of me was screaming to just cancel it, tell Kirito we could do it later, and keep playing the game then with him and Leafa.
I've found taking smaller, baby steps helps first helps.
Shino's words were wise ones. I would have lied if I said all day before logging on I wasn't checking my email to see if Shino Asada had sent me a message saying she'd gotten a new scarf. That would have given me an excuse to see her again, so I could tell her I was indeed taking those baby steps to face my fears and become as strong as I wanted to be.
No, I couldn't cancel going over to the Tanaka's. If I wanted to be brave enough, strong enough to save Asuna, to be there for Kirito, this was something I had to do, for them, for Aki and Kya… and most importantly for myself.
Kirito pulled up his menu. "It's… oh shoot, it's almost 5:30! Archer, you said we needed to leave by then, right?"
"Huh?" I said, shocked for a moment, but after seeing Kirito and Leafa looking at me, I nodded. "Ye…yeah, we should get to that village and log off. Leafa, you said you needed to go too?"
Leafa looked flustered and worried. "Gahhh you're right! I needed to leave at 5:30 too, this is super important. Come on, let's get to the village, we can all log back on in an hour or two!"
I smiled at that. I could see whatever Leafa was going to do, it was really important to her, whoever had someone like her on the other side sure was lucky.
Yui popped out of my jacket. "Daddy, Big Brother, Leafa, the inn in the NPC village is only a few minutes this way!"
"Alright, lead the way, Yui!" Leafa said, flying off after the pixie.
Kirito flew up next to me. "Hey man… you okay?"
I chewed at my digital lip. "Yeah… I'm okay. Thank you again for this Kirito, I… I couldn't do it by myself."
He laughed and punched my shoulder. "Come on none of that, you know you don't need to thank me! Sugu and I are there for you whenever you need it, you're our family now after all, we all live in the same house."
Family… a new family. Something I never would have expected.
"Ha… thanks, both of you," I said, before I heard Leafa's voice.
"Hey! Come on, we need to get moving! If I'm late for my errand I'll never forgive you idiots!" She yelled, with Yui floating above her.
"Alright, alright we're coming!" Kirito yelled, smirking at me. "Come on then, Archer, let's move!"
"R…Right," I said, flying after him towards the ALO sky, and towards what I'd been scared to do for a month now.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Suguha
"Wow… this place is huge!" I could help but say, as the three of us stood in front of the massive home that was the Tanaka's residence. I looked at Akira. "You really lived here?"
Akira chuckled nervously, stiff as a board. "Yeah… only for about a year and a half, but we did. Me and Aki… Kya convinced her parents to take us in off the street."
"They… must be nice people," I told him, before remembering their visit at Kya's grave. "Well, at least Mrs. Tanaka, Mr. Tanaka seems like a bit of an asshole if you ask me."
"Sugu…" Kazuto said in a scolding tone.
"What?! I'm not lying!" I protested, remembering the scene from two days ago.
It should have been you…
How could someone say such a thing to someone like Akira. And how could Akira not have said anything back? The truth was… I knew why, I could see it plastered on Akira's face then and there. He believed that statement to be true, he really believed that he should have died instead of Kya and his younger sister.
I was obviously glad he was still alive… but how could I tell him that? How could I tell him I was glad he was here instead of his sister and girlfriend, when he obviously wished the opposite? I felt utterly hopeless to help him. I looked and saw Kazuto looking at Akira between us, as we hadn't even moved from the front lawn to the door yet. I knew we were waiting for Mom to show up with the car, but Kazuto had smartly suggested we start right away with moving boxes to the front yard so when Mom got there we didn't have to move them from all the way into the house.
But… Akira still hadn't moved yet. Stiff as a board, he looked up at the Tanaka's house, the place he used to live… and he could move. I looked up, concerned, at his eyes and him blinking rapidly, his hands balled into fists, and then I looked at Kazuto, who nodded at me. I liked to think I understood what he was saying. I looked at him hand balled into a fist… and I grabbed it with both of mine.
"Huh?" Akira jumped, seemingly afraid of the contact at the moment. "Wha… huh?!"
Kazuto on the other side of him, had put a hand on his shoulder. "Come on, Akira. We won't get anything done standing here right?"
"He's right, we're right here if you need to stop," I said, smiling at him as brightly as I could. "The minute you feel like it's too much, we'll take over and do all the work, we're here for you!"
"Exactly," Kazuto said, a cheesy smile on his face. "I'm sure you'll take us up on that, because you tend to get really lazy sometimes!"
I giggled, as Akira scoffed and shook his head… but he was smiling now.
"You… you Kiriguya's…" He said, using his free hand to wipe his eyes. "You're really something else, aren't you? Okay… let's go."
He… he didn't let go of my hand, I realized, my face getting redder with every second that past as we started moving. Kazuto had taken his hand off his shoulder, but Akira squeezed my hand as we walked, all the way until we got to the steps and the door. He finally let it go, but not before squeezing it for comfort one last time. After he let go, I looked down at the hand he had held, and my mind started to wander.
He… he held my hand, he really did, I thought, looking up at him again, his sparkly green eyes, messy blonde hair… what was happening to me?
I knew deep down, it was just embarrassing to admit.
Akira finally, after sucking in a deep breath reached out, and rang the doorbell.
The front yard was beautiful, with rows of flowers and small trees, along with bamboo plants and a driveway with a very nice car in it. The whole thing was fenced off, the house being three stories high, and I could only assume it had a large backyard as well. It was hard for me to imagine Akira living in such a luxurious looking house, he acted so frugal and responsible with money due to his time on the streets with his sister, so it led me to believe he did the same here.
I wondered what would have happened to him by now, if SAO had never happened, if he had never got trapped. His sister, Aki was younger then me by a only a year, would she have been aspiring to be a manga artist still like Akira told me she'd wanted? What about his girlfriend, Kya, the young girl who used to live in this house, who'd taken him and Aki in? Would they be basically married at this point in real life as well?
That last thought made my face go red… I knew how I felt now, but now I really didn't know what to do.
My thoughts were interrupted when the door clicked, and next to me Akira stiffened again. Instinctively I grabbed onto his arm and squeezed. That seemed to make him jump as he looked at me with wide eyes, and I could only smile at him as the door finally opened.
"Akira, you came!" The middle-aged woman said, a smile and look of relief on her face. "It's so good to see you here finally. I… I was beginning to worry you wouldn't be able to."
I remembered being introduced to her two days ago. Hanuko I could remember was Kya's mother, and looked just as beautiful as the girl I saw in the picture Akira showed me. Her long red hair fell down her shoulders, and she wore a button up white shirt with black work pants. She bowed with a bright smile and bright green eyes as she looked at Akira. He didn't say anything at first, only floundering his words, looking like he was going to run. I was prepared to stop him, but Kazuto did it for me.
He cleared his throat and punched Akira in the shoulder, that got him moving.
"Oh! Um… hi Hanuko, I'm sorry… sorry it took so long," He said, bowing to her, before gesturing to Kazuto first. "This is my friend Kazuto Kiriguya a friend from… from SAO. And you met his sister Sugu the other day."
Kazuto smiled and bowed. "It's very nice to meet you ma'am."
"It's nice to see you again!" I said, bowing as well.
Hanuko smiled and bowed back. "The pleasure is mine, it's good to meet you Kazuto," she said, before looking at me. "And it's good to see you again too dear," her smile grew wide, "I must say, you two seemed quite close but I didn't know you were that close."
"Huh?" I said, confused, before looking down to see she was looking at me holding onto Akira's arm still.
Akira looked down at me, clearly confused at what Hanuko was suggesting as well. He didn't get what she was saying before I did, and like I'd been shocked awake I detached myself from his arm with a red face, laughing nervously.
"OH! Oh, it's nothing like that really, not at all ahahahaha, I mean it really, we're just friends!" I said, turning away from all three pairs of eyes. "Just friends yeah…"
I looked and saw Akira looking hopelessly confused for a moment. He probably did realize what Mrs. Tanaka was insinuating, but like I'd expected he had much more important things he was worrying about in that moment. After giving me a tiny smile for a moment, he turned and bowed at Mrs. Tanaka again.
"They've been the ones taking care of me, I'd be lost without them," He said. "I'm… sorry again that it took me so long."
Hanuko smiled, but I could tell she was holding back a whole wave of emotions she didn't want to show right now. She moved forward and held both of Akira's arms, smiling the entire time as she sighed and shook her head.
"It's no problem, you don't have to worry about a thing," She said, patting his shoulders again and turning back to her house. "Come on in, I made lemonade, cookies and have food in the oven if you want to stay, I've already gotten all your boxes together, take as long as you need."
"Thank you very much," Kazuto said, bowing as the woman retreated into the house. "Akira? Come on, let's get moving."
He'd stopped again, as if the door was a portal into the underworld.
Kazuto nodded at me, and I stepped behind Akira, prodding him with my arms. "Come on slowpoke, it'd be rude to not eat any of the cookies she made!"
"Oh… yeah, you're right," He said, shaking as he finally walked inside.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Wow, Akira's old room is…exactly like I thought it'd be," I said, as I bounced up on the old mattress, Kazuto lifting boxes across from me.
He groaned and dropped them near the door. "You mean plain and financially responsible?"
"Yeah, pretty much," I said, looking at Akira's old desk.
Kazuto groaned again. "Are you going to pick up ant boxes?"
"You seem to have it handled…" I said, jumping off the bed and wondering over to the desk.
Just like back at our house, Akira's room was rather plain. He had no special sheets, blankets, stuffed animals, extra plants, anything. I didn't know if this was the effect of the Tanaka's moving stuff around and packing it away, but there weren't many boxes in his room do I didn't think so. The house had been even bigger on the inside, Akira and his sister's old room being on the third floor where we were now. Akira had gone off into his sister's room, and despite me wanting to go with him, Kazuto had suggested we give him space in there himself.
So now, while Kazuto moved boxes into the hallway, I looked through the last room Akira had lived in before moving in with us. He had a shelf and a dressed, a bed with a nice window view of the city outside, and some shelves with old odds and ends, and then… on the desk, I still saw multiple picture frames.
I felt a bit bad hearing Kazuto struggle with boxes of Akira's old clothes, but my curiosity got the bed of me. On his old desk, Akira had kept two pictures. One was the same one I knew he had a copy off back home, the one of him, his younger sister and his girlfriend Kya all together. I looked at the picture then and saw little Aki who would only be two years younger then me right now. Of course, there was Kya as well, Hanuko's daughter with the beautiful flowing red hair, delicate features and stunning smile.
It made me feel extremely self-conscious, despite my best attempts to make it not so.
"Hey… Kazuto?" I asked, looking at the picture.
I heard a loud thud as the box dropped. "Huh? What is it, are you finally volunteering to help?"
"Did you… ever get to meet Kya? Akira's girlfriend," I asked, ignoring his question.
His annoyed look changed, as he walked towards me, grabbing the picture as well. He examined it for a minute, a smile coming to his face.
"Well, technically I didn't meet her in SAO, I saw her before," He explained, plopping onto Akira's old bed. "She was a beta-tester like me. We never talked, but I saw her fight in the test, she was a hell of a player, an even better archer then Akira."
"I bet I know someone who's even better…" I said quietly, thinking back to the few hours I had just spent in ALO, but going on before Kazuto could ask questions. "But you never actually talked to her, did you?"
"I didn't know, she… had already died, when I met Akira," He said, as I sat down next to him. We both looked at the picture of our friend and his family. Kazuto sighed, as if the next words were hard to say. "Believe it or not… Asuna, she was the one to introduce me to Akira. She got to meet Kya, for a short while at least, between what they both told me she… sounded pretty great."
That deflated me more then I wanted. "Yeah… I bet she was."
Kazuto smiled and chuckled, reaching out and patting my head. "What's wrong? Trying to see how you stack up?"
I choked. "Wh…what?! No, no of course not why would I do that?!"
"Because you like Akira."
"No! I do not, I've already told you a hundred times I don't okay!" I protested, but unable to hide the truth written all over my face.
Kazuto chuckled and fell back on Akira's old bed. "Come on Sugu, you know you can't lie about it. Besides, Akira already knows you do."
"WHAT?! How?! How did he figure out, did you tell him?!"
My brother smirked. "No, you didn't tell anyone until you just told me."
"I… wait… you… Ughhhhh!" I said, turning and falling into the bed to hide my face.
How could I have fallen for the oldest trick in the book?
Kazuto laughed behind me. "Hahaha, oh come on, don't worry it's nothing to be ashamed of. You like him right? Don't be afraid of it."
"I never thought you'd give me relationship advice…" I muttered into the pillow, before sitting up, my eyes falling to the ground, twiddling my thumbs together. "But… but I do. I really, really like him."
"There it is," He said, smiling at me. "Truth is, I suspected it from the time we were in the hospital you had a bit of a crush on him. Little Sugu has a crush on a boy, how cute- ow!"
I smacked his shoulder. "Stop teasing me! I'm serious here… I… I don't know what to do."
"Why's that?" He said, rubbing his shoulder.
It was my turn to stutter. "I… I don't know! I… want to tell him, but I'm scared of what he'll say, I mean we live in the same house!"
Kazuto chuckled, folding his arms. "You don't have to worry about that, Akira's not the kind of guy to make things awkward. Besides, I know he cares about you a whole lot, in what kind of way, I'm not sure, but I do know… well he loves you, already."
My face got ever hotter, just hearing the words made my chest start dancing.
Akira… loves me, I knew that but… what does he see me as?
This was one thing I'd never had to do before. The feelings that stirred inside my chest now, they were foreign to me. They made me feel amazing but… but how did I act on them?
"I… I know that," I said, before sighing, and falling into my brother's shoulder. "Kazuto… what do I do?"
Kazuto stiffened. "You… you're asking me?!"
"Of course, I am!" I said, turning and looking at him. "It would be too embarrassing to ask mom, and I don't know anyone else to turn too, you're his best-friend!"
"I don't have any experience with this kind of stuff!"
"Oh come on, Akira told me you were married to Asuna!"
"He… he told you?" He stuttered, before turning and narrowing his eyes. "Dammit Akira…"
I shook my head. "That's besides the point! I… I really like him Kazuto, I don't know what to do, I'm terrified of what happens if I were to tell him but… but I have to tell him soon or I'll explode!"
Kazuto nervously rubbed his head. "Well… okay, first off, will anything change depending on his answer?"
I paused. "Wh…what?"
He shrugged. "No matter what answer he gives you on his feelings… will it change how you feel about him? Will it make you resent him or hate him?"
"What?! No of course not!"
He breathed out a sigh. "Then… just tell him. I can promise no matter what you'll still have a place in his heart. Yeah, it may suck if he doesn't have the same kind of feelings for you as you do for him but well… if you'll both love each other no matter what, then what's the harm in figuring out?"
I wanted to object but… I couldn't help but see the truth in Kazuto's words.
He's right… Akira will always care for me, he said to himself. I… I want to have a place in his heart as a romantic partner but… do I really already have a place in it?
Kazuto went on. "I know Akira well. He's the kind of guy who appreciates straight forwardness and honesty. I think your best chance is to just be straight up and honest with your feelings. Tell him at the right time, but just come straight out and say it… I… think that makes sense?"
I looked at him mystified. "Is… that what you did with Asuna?"
Kirito winced. "That… was a different story, different circumstances. But it's like I said… being honest with yourself is always the best way, Asuna… she told me that."
"Honest with myself huh…" I whispered, looking down at the ground again.
"Yup!" My brother said cheerfully, hoping off the bed and urging me off with him. "As a matter of fact, why don't you go check on him and talk to him now?"
I nearly exploded. "Now?! Wh… what no! I can't just tell him right now, that… that's too much, besides I need to help you move-."
"You weren't helping that much anyway," Kazuto said, smiling as he urged me out of Akira's old room. "Besides, it's time we check on him, go on, good luck!"
"Huh?!" I said, as I was pushed into the hallway. "Wait! Kazuto! What do I even say-."
I didn't get to ask before my brother shut the door. I was sure he thought he was helping me, but even I knew that a time like this was probably the last time Akira wanted a romantic confession of feelings dropped on him. Down at the end of the hall I saw what used to be Akira's sister Aki's room. Outside, I saw Akira had dropped his white jacket, and the door was slightly ajar.
My hand went to my chest. I had on my skirt and winter coat, but I slid my hat off my head and made my way towards the door.
Honest and straightforward… he'll love me either way… okay, come on Suguha, do it!
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Akira
"You were so… so talented Aki," I said, slumped against her bed, flipping through one of her old sketchbooks. "So much more talented than me…"
She would have gone on to be one of the best manga authors in Japan, I just know she would have. The one I had in my hands had been her main one, the one I'd replaced for her after spilling coffee on her old one that one morning. It had dozens of pictures of different fantasy like characters which I could remember the names off, the plot lines for, the backstory for, the ins and outs of how she came up with their character designs. It was still there, stuck in my head, where it would stay forever.
The plot of her manga wasn't very complicated, but she had put her heart and soul into it. Aki had believed that even the simplest of stories could be amazing if you put enough love into your characters, and that was what she did. It was about a mad king, who trapped an entire kingdom of people inside their borders with his magic, forcing everyone to fight for resources, and try to be the first ones to kill him. Whoever killed the king would rule over the land, and free the rest of the people from the curse and trap.
It was a way to see if the people would band together, pick a ruler they all wanted and fight the king and his monsters together, or if they would attack each other first to eliminate threats to becoming ruler themselves?
Oddly enough, it sounded a bit like SAO. One man decided to trap a large group of people and told them the only way to survive was to fight their way to him and defeat him. I may have been bias, but I think Aki wrote up a better plot then Kayaba had.
Each one was intricately drawn, from the main heroine, the trusty sidekick, the big softie, the brainy girl, each kind of character you'd normally find in a manga like this. She had drawn entire panels in her sketch book of epic battles, heartbreaking moments, all of it looked just as amazing to me now as when Aki would first show it off. She'd ask me for historical tidbits, and help writing the plot. Not that she was a bad writer or anything, but her focus was almost completely on the drawing.
And what amazing draws they were, especially off the hero.
"The Hero Akira…" I whispered, flipping to the second half of the book, which was completely dedicated to the main character of Aki's tale.
The young merchant's son Akira, who quite literally works his way from the ground up. He doesn't know how to even use magic at first, but by the end, through his tireless hard work, dedication and training after the death of his family by people looking to steal their goods, he becomes the lands hero, the one to climb the massive castle and defeat the King. He learned summing magic, his main weapon being a magic bow that never runs out of arrows. No matter what The Hero Akira faces in Aki's tale, he perseveres, fights through it and never stops, he keeps moving forward until he reaches his goal of freeing the Kingdom from the King's magic, saving his sister and getting the girl. A character in both name and design based off of Aki's real life hero her older brother.
Irony was a cruel mistress.
I'll never be like The Hero Akira Aki… despite everything I try, I said, flipping through the drawings of the hero Aki drew me as.
I was a failed hero for Aki in the end, and for Kya, considering neither of them were here now.
"I can't even fly and shoot at the same time…" I muttered to myself, looking at the last page, which had all seven of the main characters drawn together. "The hero…"
It was a good thing I had Kirito, or else Asuna would truly be doomed.
Funnily enough, two of Aki's characters in the main cast of seven looked a bit like the both of them. Fate worked in cruel ways.
"Hey… Akira? Are… you okay," Sugu's voice filtered in, as I looked and saw her entering.
I cursed under my breath and wiped my face. "Yeah… yeah I'm alright. How are you and Kirito doing in my old room?"
Sugu smiled and jotted over to me. "He's just about done getting everything into the hallway. You know, we were saying your old rooms as plain as we expected."
"You mean efficient," I corrected. "No unnecessary expenditures in my household."
Sugu giggled and stopped in front of me. "Maybe you can teach Kazuto a thing or two."
I scoffed. "You're telling me. He leaves his lights on even when he's not in the room! Not to mention his computer, he's always leaving it on when he doesn't need, I'm surprised your parents haven't strangled him for having the electric bill so high."
She laughed again, not knowing I was deadly serious. Back when I lived with just Aki and my mother in the small apartment, we made sure every bit of electricity and water was saved.
After she finished, she held her hands together in front of her, kicking her boot on the ground as if she was afraid to ask me something. Her face was a bit red, but she still smiled. She looked… incredibly cute, reminding me of Aki when she used to get all nervous like this. It was normally followed by her asking me to buy her a manga set, or if we could stop for ramen instead of making it at home.
"Do… you mind if I sit with you?" She finally asked.
I smiled… it was nice seeing her. Honestly, I had been expecting Kirito to walk through the door and while I love him, I had found myself wishing it had been Sugu, and my wish had been answered. It was just something about her that calmed me down in a way nobody else had managed to do since Aki and Kya were alive. Her presence, her cute smile and demeanor all just put me at ease.
I scooted over and patted the floor next to me. "Of course you can, you don't even have to ask."
Her smile grew and she sat herself down next to me. She looked at the book in my hands. "What's that you have there?"
"Oh this?" I said, smiling as I handed it to her and opened the first page, as eager to show off my sister's work as I used to be. "It's one of Aki's main old sketchbooks. She was drawing the manga she wanted to write in here, check it out."
Sugu's eyes widened as she took the book. "Wow… you told me before she wanted to draw a manga, but I didn't think she'd already gotten so far. My god Akira… these… these are amazing! Your sister was how old?"
"Twelve, when she started that," I said, as Sugu went page by page. "She worked on it for more then a year straight before… well…"
I didn't want to go on, and thankfully Sugu didn't press me. She only looked at the drawings with complete awe on her face.
"I can't believe she was so young and so talented," She said, getting to the second half. She chuckled nervously. "Ha… more talented than me, I could never dream of doing something like this."
I scoffed. "Give yourself some credit Ms. Kendo Prodigy. You've got talent coming out your ears. You're kind, caring, but you don't let other's put you or anyone you care about down. You're confident and beautiful, the truth is, I'm a bit jealous myself."
The words came out of nowhere, but they'd been ones I wanted to tell her for some time. In the month that I'd known her, I really couldn't get over just how much I'd come to care about Suguha Kiriguya. Like Aki, she was kind and caring to everyone, but if you ticked her off or harassed someone she loved, watch out. I don't know where I'd be if not for her, and even only my words couldn't express how grateful I was to her.
She took the compliment different then how I'd expected. Her eyes got wide, as her face got redder by the second, she pulled up her scarf and laughed nervously again. Her eyes darted from the book to me, unable to hide the smile growing on her face.
"So… that's what you think about me, huh?" She said quietly.
I smiled back at her. "Of course, it is. I don't know what I'd have done without you this last month Sugu, so thank you. Especially for today, I'd never have been able to do this if you hadn't been here with me. If there's anything I can do, don't even hesitate to ask."
She tried to hide in her scarf. "Anything…?"
"Anything, you name it."
She took a moment to speak, as if she was psyching herself up. What was she doing that for?
She patted her cheeks, put down Aki's book and looked at me, determination in her eyes. "I… I want you to teach me to shoot a bow!"
I almost laughed, all that thought for something so simple?
Still, she was adorable looking flustered like she was, like when Aki used to beg for things.
So, I nodded. "Ha, okay of course. We can make a day out of it, how about tomorrow? It's a Saturday, we can get lunch, some ice cream, go for a walk, and I'll show you how to shoot."
"Really, you mean it?" She said, her hands at her chest, excitement bubbling up inside her.
"Of course, Kazuto and I have some things we need to do tomorrow, but we can just go before in the afternoon."
"That works out great, I'll be busy too, but the afternoon is perfect!"
"Alright, it's a plan," I said, picking up and flipping through Aki's book again. "We'll tell Kazuto… huh, Sugu?"
The minute I'd said her brother's name, Sugu's face fell. A nervous look came to her, as she looked like she desperately wanted to say something.
Eventually, she did, she met my eyes and shook her head. "I… I was wondering well… well… would it be okay if it was just the two of us?!"
She spoke so fast, I barely registered what she said. After a few seconds I realized what she was trying to ask, and let it sink in. I didn't understand why she seemed so afraid, didn't she know I'd do anything with her? It frustrated me, because I was normally good at telling what people were thinking.
I guess I wasn't nearly as good as I thought.
Still, I gave her a reassuring smile. "Sure, if that's what you want, how's 1 sound? I need to go to the gym and all then it's my turn to grocery shop, I'll be back by then."
"Okay! Okay, awesome I'll be ready by then I promise!" She said, before making me jump by reaching over and hugging around my neck. "Thank you Akira! I really… oh god I'm sorry!"
"Ha, it's alright, you don't need to apologize," I said, before I reached over and pulled her back into the hug she'd pulled out of. She went stiff for a minute, her head against my shoulder, before she finally relaxed and hesitantly reached around my neck to hug me again.
I smiled, and after she pulled back I patted her head. "Never be afraid to give me a hug if you need it. Aki used to always say, sometimes people just need a hug, it's the best way to make them feel calmer."
"I… I… thank you," She said, trying to hide her face in her scarf again, her eyes falling to the floor. "You know you… really mean a lot to me too. I… I wanted to tell you, I… hold on, what's this one?"
She picked up Aki's sketch book, the picture she turned to was a drawing of The Hero Akira. He even wore a black cloak like I had in SAO and now in ALO.
"Oh… well, that's the main character of Aki's manga," I said, taking the book from her and gazing at the picture my sister drew so long ago. "She called him, The Hero Akira."
Sugu looked for a moment at the drawing, then back up at me, before giggling. "Haha, that's so adorable, she named her main character after her big brother!"
"She sure did…" I said, letting out a sigh and handing the book back to her, my eyes falling to the ground between my legs. "But I'm afraid after the name well… that's where the similarities end between us."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Sugu asked, moving a bit closer.
I looked at that picture my sister drew. A picture of a hero, a hero who's story and world she wanted to bring to life and share with the world.
A story, that now would never get told, thanks to the inspiration for that hero failing her.
"The Hero Akira… he never gives in to despair," I told her, hugging my arms around my knees feeling as small as I ever had. "He always perseveres in the end, he finds ways to protect the ones he loves, and despite all the horrible things that happens to him, he keeps moving forward, because he knows he has too… he's a true hero. And me? Well… we just share a name, I'm no hero, despite what I've tried to tell myself the last two years."
Even back in SAO… I died. I had no idea if me being alive was just Kayaba's way of trying to get one last spiteful jab in at me, but either way I was here now. I wasn't upset that I had lived, I really wasn't… but I was beginning to realize how ill-prepared I was. No Kya. No Aki. I had people I loved now, but the two people who'd made things worth living for were gone.
All gone, because I couldn't be the hero, I always tried to be for them. Who knows, if I had gone to the Assault Team earlier, perhaps they would be alive. Or, if I hadn't insisted on getting the strongest gear possible before going, they'd be alive.
Maybe if they had a different brother, a different boyfriend, they'd be alive.
It should have been me…
Sugu didn't say anything at first. I didn't see her face due to mine being buried between my legs, but once I heard her move… she finally spoke.
"You know… for someone so smart, you're really stupid Akira," She said.
"Huh?" I said, looking up to see she was standing in front of me now.
She wore her smile like always. The orange sun streamed in through Aki's old window and casted a brilliant glow around her, as she reached her hand down to me. Her entire body took on the orange glow, one of the most beautiful colors I'd ever seen, as her sweet smile never wavered while she held out her hand.
"You are that hero Akira, even if you think you aren't. Even if you don't think so, what you should care about, was that was how Aki saw you," She said, her head tilting to the side. "And not for nothing… but the Akira I know, and The Hero Akira, sound pretty similar, if what Kazuto has told me is true, and he has no reason to lie… well, then you're my hero too."
"I… I…" I couldn't think of anything to say, I was too transfixed on the glow around her.
She giggled again, her hand still out. "He didn't tell me exact details, but… Kazuto told me that towards the end of SAO, you both fought a really strong opponent together, someone who'd never been beaten before. And… and Kazuto thought he was going to die, that… Asuna was going to die, but before they could you saved them! And the game ended not long after that."
Smart move leaving out the fact I really did die Kirito, I managed to think quickly.
Sugu's face was transfixed on me, her smile growing. "So… it's you I have to thank for my brother being here. You're my hero Akira, if not for you… I wouldn't have my brother. So, thank you, for saving him, and giving me my family back. I didn't know Aki… but I think she'd be really happy you were able to save him and Asuna! And I'm sure she'd still have you as the hero in her manga to this day!"
My chest exploded. I saw a scene I hadn't seen in my head for years, since it'd happened so long ago.
It was a few weeks after Aki, and I had been out on the streets. We were both hungry, still reeling from our mother's death. It'd been two days since we ate, and I finally fell slumped over crying in an alleyway, with Aki behind me. It'd been raining, we were stuck, nowhere to go, not a yen to our name, and I was ready to finally just crawl up in the trash and die. My one promise to my mother to watch after Aki I had failed in.
But… but Aki she…
I looked at Sugu, and flashing before my eyes, for a second, I saw my smiling sister, her blonde hair drenched down her back, but still a smile on her face. Reaching out her hand like Sugu was now.
"It's okay to cry Big Brother, even hero's cry sometimes, and they always have people with them, like you have me!"
I finally felt tears come down my face. "Su…Sugu…"
She smiled and didn't wait, she reached down and grabbed my hand. She yanked me up off the ground to be standing right in front of her, and with a huge smile on her face, just like Aki had that day, she reached her arms around my waist and hugged me.
"It's okay… even heroes need help," She said, burying her face in my chest for a moment. "You weren't the hero in Aki's manga because you had powers or strength, you were the hero because of the person you are, the great person, her big brother. I think even now, you're still Aki's hero, like you are one of mine… Akira."
"I… I… Sugu…" I said, before reaching and hugging her again.
I was her hero because of who I was… Aki…
And I wasn't just her hero. I'd been spending so long focusing on what I lost, and didn't even realize what I had gained, and what I saved. Even heroes cried sometimes… my little sister had said that. How had she been so wise at such a young age?
Because even now… she was right.
But… but what do I do now? Asuna… the fight isn't over yet.
"Akira… I brought you some-. Oh! Am I interrupting something, I'm so sorry dears," Hanuko's voice filtered in through the door.
I could see every bit of Sugu's confidence turn to embarrassment, red rising in her face like a thermometer, as she looked at herself holding me, at me crying, and then at Hanuko who held a bowl of cookies and squealed.
"Ahh… GAHHH! NOTHING IT WAS NOTHING!" She said, detaching herself from me, and looking at me red face. "I… I'll go help Kazuto again before he-."
"OH GOD DAMMIT!" Kazuto yelled from the hall, before the sound of falling boxes could be heard.
"I… should probably go help him! Noth… nothing was happening, thank you for the food!" Sugu cried, grabbing a cookie from Hanuko's plate and running out of the room to help her brother.
Outside I heard the sound of Kiriguya's arguing, a sound I'd become accustom too in the last month. After both of us looked at the door confused for a moment, Hanuko finally chuckled, a smile on her face as she set the cookies down on Aki's old desk.
"She seems like a very lovely girl," She said. "And your friend, Kazuto, he hasn't stopped moving for one minute for you."
"They're great… both of them," I said, unable to look at her.
Hanuko tilted her head. "Akira…is something wrong?"
"No, nothing's wrong."
"Do you want some of these then? I just made them."
I bit my lip, it was tempting, but I didn't deserve them from her. "No… it's okay, thank you."
She laughed and sat down on Aki's bed. "Now I know something's wrong… come on, what is it?"
She gestured at the spot next to her bed, and a part of me wanted to leave. Hanuko had been doing all she could for me, despite what had happened. Kya had looked so much like her mother it hurt, and I had been part of the reason she was gone now.
I was waiting. Waiting for Hanuko to resent me like Kya's father did.
But… just like Kya, that's not the person she is.
Giving up, I sat down next to her, and for a minute neither of us said anything. Finally, unable to bear the silence and realizing that she was probably waiting for me I tried to get out of the situation.
"I… I'm really okay, I promise," I told her, faking a smile. "I'm just a little overwhelmed, I'll be okay after-."
"You're just like her, you know that Akira?" She said, smiling herself… except this time, I could see how real it was. "Kyou, you're just like her. You both always put worrying about others ahead of worrying about yourselves. I think that's why you got along so well."
I floundered for a minute… was it just some kind of power for parents to be able to read people?
After she saw I couldn't answer she laughed again. "I'll never forget the day she brought you and Aki here. Both of you were thin as twigs… that was just who she was, Kyou. And… it's who you are as well."
"I… I'm nothing like she was, I could never hope," I said honestly, my gaze falling to the ground again. "I'm not the man she thought I was… or the hero Aki thought I was."
"Why? Because you're upset? Because you're crying?" She said, shaking her head. "No, crying and feeling vulnerable doesn't make you weak, it makes you strong, it shows you care. I told that to Kyou all the time. Your sorrows, no matter how small you think they are, are just as legitimate as everyone else. It's okay to be not okay, Akira. I've seen it every time I've seen you so far. Your friend, Kazuto, he's an SAO survivor too, right?"
I nodded, still unable to look at her.
Hanuko went on. "And I bet you've been holding yourself back for his sake, so he can grieve and process what happened himself and process the effects, am I right?"
That… that's the least of it, the least of what's happening. Yet again though… she was correct. I started talking before I could stop myself.
"Kazuto and I… we had another friend from SAO," I said, picking my words carefully. "But… but she never woke up. She's… trapped, and we're trying to find her. He loves her, so do I but not nearly as much as he does. I… I'm scared, scared that well… well I… I won't be…"
Asuna…
And that was when everything broke down inside me.
"And… and I'm scared that I'll lose her! I'm scared I'll lose her, her and Kazuto, that I won't be strong enough to save them," I said, tears streaming down my face now, my hands holding my temples. "That I won't be strong enough for them, like I wasn't enough to save Kya and Aki! I feel useless, I feel weak, I'll never be the hero Aki saw, I'll never be the person Kya thought I was I'll-."
My head was pulled closer into her shoulder, and Hanuko held me there. Her hand stroked against my hair and… I felt like I was a child again, a small child back with my mother in that tiny apartment with Aki.
So much pain, so much loss, how was I supposed to stomach it all and still be the person that everyone thought I was going to be?
"To mourn, to grieve, to feel weakness and sadness…it's what makes us human," She whispered, her hand gently stroking across the back of my head. "You want to be that hero Aki saw, the person Kyou thought you were… you're already there Akia, because you feel these emotions. They don't make you weak, they make you human, and before you can be a hero, you need to be human. A hero who doesn't feel is no hero, a person who doesn't feel, is no person."
Even heroes cry sometimes… Aki… Sugu….
"You have the right to be upset, to grieve Akira, and I know your friends believe so too, they wouldn't be here if they didn't want to help you with it," She said, pulling me back and looking right into my tear-filled face with her smile. "You are allowed to cry, go on, cry your heart out, it doesn't matter if you fail. Within the defeated a victor always waits to emerge, stay true to what your wishes are, to the person you are deep down. Do that, and you'll be the hero that Aki always saw you as… that Kyou saw you as Akira."
It's okay to cry… I'm allowed to grieve and be upset… what a stupid boy I am, to have to be told that by two people now.
So I did, I cried. I cried for Aki, for Kya, for Asuna, for the over six-thousand people I was too late to help save in SAO.
But I cried… knowing that this wasn't the end, because my friends and I, we were going to find Asuna, and free her. Her and all the other people who were still trapped.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry Hanuko," I said, falling into her chest again as she pulled be into another hug as I was a sobbing mess. "I'm sorry I didn't bring her back, I'm so, so sorry… it was my fault."
"Oh… Akira," She said, smiling as she hugged me again. "I never blamed you, it wasn't your fault…. You deserved to live, never forget that."
You deserve to live.
Maybe… maybe I really did after all.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Suguha
"Oh man… Mrs. Tanaka's cookies are so good," I couldn't help but say, looking at the bag of extra's she had given us. "I'll be saving these for later!"
"You mean at like 2 in the morning when you get up to stuff your face?" Kazuto teased.
"Shut up!" I shouted back, suddenly self-conscious. "I do not get up to eat that early!"
"You're right, sometimes it's 5 in the morning when I get up for the gym," Akira said, looking down and smiling. "At that point, you may as well go with me, you can't be a worse gym partner then Kazuto over here!"
"Hey! I got the bar up eventually," Kazuto shot back, red faced now.
I laughed, and so did Akira. I looked up at him now, and while he still had red puffy eyes… he was smiling. He looked like the Akira I'd come to know over the last month, instead of the times I found him lamenting in his room, or the scared boy he'd looked like before we entered the house.
Did… something I say really help? Or was it Mrs. T-.
"Hey, Sugu," He said, making me jump.
"Gah! Um… yeah?" I said, surprised.
We all stopped in the middle of the front yard, and he turned to smile at me. He reached over and patted my head again, his beautiful smile growing as he looked at me. The orange light from the sun casted his shadow over me, and the minute he touched my head, I nearly melted.
"Thank again for what you said," He told me, his smile never wavering. "Again, you really helped me out. So thanks, and tomorrow we'll have an awesome time I promise."
"I… I didn't do anything big!" I protested, nervously twisting my foot in the ground. "But… I am excited, thanks for agreeing to take me."
"Take you where?" Kazuto asked.
Before I could answer, Akira turned to him. "I promised Sugu we'd go out together tomorrow, I'm gonna show her how to shoot, hopefully she learns quicker then you. You were atrocious."
"Hey, it's not like your sword lessons were easy for me!" Kazuto argued back. "Besides, should I tell Sugu that every single time in SAO we fought, that I was the winner?!"
Akira scoffed. "Yeah, that's because I wasn't nearly as in good a shape as I am now. Even with the system assist you weren't nearly as fast as me."
"But I was stronger you jerk!" He said, reaching over and snapping Akira up into a headlock. "Huh?! What are those gym muscles gonna do now tough guy?!"
"Gahhh, get off me jerk!" Akira yelled, trying to wrestle his way out, but Kazuto had a firm grip on him, and no matter how much they wrestle, he stayed in control.
Kazuto rubbed Akira's head, Akira stepped on his foot, for a good minute or so the two shouted and teased each other, laughing and shouting the whole time. I just stood there, wondering if this would become a common occurrence in my life now, Kirito and Archer in ALO, then Akira and Kazuto in the real world. I was certainly never going to be bored, that was for sure.
Still… tomorrow, Akira and I are going out alone, just the two of us… GAHH what was I thinking?!
The idea made me wanna hide away I my scarf, but it also excited me beyond belief. It hadn't been just the two of us since we went to visit Kya's grave together two days ago. I spent time with him and Kazuto, but never just him. This would really be the first time I got to spend time alone with a boy that I was sure I liked… no, I thought I loved.
My eyes widened, my ears going redder as I watched the two idiots, could… could this be considered a da… a date?! It has to be right? A date with Akira… I wonder if he sees it as that?
"Kazuto, I sweat, get off me!" Akira yelled, trying to reverse the hold my brother had.
"Ha, those lessons count for nothing now huh?!" Kazuto said, still holding on but losing ground. "You're no match for-."
The two stopped, and I turned with them, when we heard the front gate open. At first I thought it was mom coming to tell us to hurry up since she was waiting with the car outside. We'd finally managed after about two hours to get all the boxes into her car. Akira insisted on paying her for gas, but mom of course refused. I wanted to help of course, but I was also in a bit of a hurry, I didn't know how long I had until Archer and Kirito logged back into ALO.
However, it wasn't mom. Instead, a lone man walked through the gate. Dressed in a white collared work shirt and pants, I recognized Mr. Tanaka, the man who'd come with Hanuko two days ago.
It should have been you.
Those words played over in my head again, and my anger at them came scorching back.
"You… you finally came," The man said calmly, a sad, depressed look on his face.
Akira stiffened between us but bowed. "Mr. Tanaka… I'm sorry it took so long. This is my friend, Kazuto Kiriguya, and… you met Suguha. Everything's gone, I promise I won't intrude on you again."
The silence for a moment was palpable. Kazuto looked at Akira, then to Mr. Tanaka and bowed, I did the same begrudgingly.
The man didn't say anything, he only sighed. "Boy… I want-."
"Now hold on!" I said, unable to keep my mouth shut.
"Sugu!" Akira said, trying to stop me, but I had too much anger pent up at the man from two days ago as I stepped in front of him.
"Before you even think about saying anything again you should know Akira's one of the best people I know!" I shouted, pointing at the man. "He loved your daughter with every single bit of his heart, and I know you're upset about her dying but that doesn't mean you need to be rude to him! He…. He does everything he can to make sure everyone is happy, and I know he did that for your daughter right up until her last moments, he would have given his life for her if he could, so don't you dare say that it 'should have been him', he deserved to live as much as my brother and everyone else did!"
"Sugu!" Kazuto said now, pulling me back. "Calm down…"
"Sugu…" Akira said, looking at me with surprised eyes, and when I saw them… I practically did melt.
But still, my blood was boiling, I looked back at Mr. Tanaka who's eyes had fallen again. I started scolding myself, the man looked devastated, and I had probably just made it worse, reminding him of his daughter. Still… I didn't regret it, who could tell someone like Akira they wished it should have been him.
Finally, Mr. Tanaka's head rose, and he ran a hand through his grey, black hair. I waited for him to yell, and kick us off his property.
But he didn't.
"You're right," He said simply, going to walk past us, but stopping next to Akira. "Come over for dinner one of these nights. Let Hanuko know when you can."
With that… he didn't say anything else, only walking up to his front door, and into his house. I stood there slack-jawed, looking at Kazuto and Akira as if the man had spoken in some foreign language.
Kazuto looked at Akira, who looked the most shell-shocked of all of us. "Hey… Akira? Are… you okay?"
"I'm sorry Akira!" I said, seeing the look on his face and feeling ashamed now. "I… I don't know what came over me, I just didn't want him to insult you anymore! You deserved to be here like-. Huh?"
Akira only walked over and patted my head again. "Thank you Sugu…. Hey, Kazuto, we were in the middle of something before we left right? We need to get back and finish up, don't you think?"
Kazuto went stiff, his mouth floundering before he spoke. "Yeah… we do, but are… you sure you're, okay?"
Akira stepped towards the gate. I noticed he was crying, tears were coming down his cheeks.
But… he smiled, and this time his smile reached all the way to his eyes.
"I'm great… really great," He said, flashing his thumbs up and waving for us. "Come on Kiriguya's let's go home."
Next Time, Episode 5: The Legrue Corridor, rejuvenated after her real world errands are done, Leafa dives back into ALO to meet back up with Kirito and Archer. Her and her new party members head down towards the Legrue Corridor, before they realize they're being followed! Not to mention, an ominous message from Recon stirs up worries and questions. It's soon time for Leafa to see the true skill and power of her new party members.
A/N: Hellooooo SAO Survivors, did you miss this story? I know I've been working hard to get this done and I am so so happy to finally have it up for you all! We had a long chapter today, which is what I prefer. Personally, I hate getting smaller chapters like 3-8k words, since the experience is over so quick. I'd much rather wait a week or so for a bigger chapter that's 15-20k words.
This chapter clocks in at 22k! I hope you're all enjoying the length of these chapters, because I enjoy writing them to be longer, it gives me a much bigger sense of achievement and lets me get every small detail I want for the characters in here.
SO, about the chapter, we get half real world, half in game. Now for an OC story, the OC is obviously what has to have the most work if you want people to enjoy. A lot of OC stories just have the OC be powerful one note character who get the girl and solve all the problems. Now I don't like writing stories like that.
With my OCs, i'm writing them to feel like they were already cannon. I want Akira to go through all the hard parts of SAO, go through all the conflicts, everything. He'll change some things up yeah, I'll add things here and there, but I want him to feel like a real character who you could find in the story. So yeah, Kirito, Sugu, everyone they'll be affected by Akira being there like a real person would.
I think Akira's struggles so far feel real and compelling, at least I hope xD
SO now, after this chapter after the words he's received we're going to see a brand new Akira, one who'd determined and ready to finally go save his friends. Of course, he'll have a few more challenges to face in the story, especially in GGO and eventually Underworld, but this chapter was a really important one for him, and for Sugu.
Now, I want to say again that the main ship for this series is going to be Akira/Sinon, I've made that clear since I decided on it in Aincrad. I'm going to make a short 'what if' story, that's like 1 or 2 chapters long of what would have happened if he chose Sugu, but the cannon story is Akira/Sinon.
Okay, okay enough rambling haha. Please leave a review if you got time, and make sure to follow if you wanna be notified when I update! I'll see you all next time!
