"What's taking them so long?"

"You just got here, and technically we're a few minutes early." Joshua shrugs as he drops down on the bench, handing Kazuto a foam cup filled with hot chocolate. Seeing his best friend doesn't care for technicalities, Kazuto takes a testing sip of the waming, chocolately liquid, lets out a relieved sigh, and looks back at the heavily-layered boy beside him. He looks ridiculous in the red and black coat he wears above what seems to be a black sweater. "You didn't wear all that to school today."

He scoffs and kicks a bit of the snow with his boots. "What's ridiculous is that we have school until Christmas Eve. You Japanese people clown us Americans for being nuts, but that is crazy."

"Says the halfie."

"Anyway... You got the gift you're giving Asuna, and when are you giving it?"

Kazuto looks around, hoping to not catch sight of the girls, then pulls a red box out of his pocket. "Yeah, its the necklace I wanted to give her. I'll give it to her at the end of the night. Thanks for...the help purchasing it. I'll pay you back."

Joshua holds his hand up. "What are best friends for if I can't use my family's money for your romance. Don't mention it unless she really presses you."

"But--"

"You helped me this summer with the Underworld, and got hell because of it. Consider this my payback for that favor. And if not...take it as me repaying for my immoral comment about Asuna when you were knocked out." Joshua fishes in his pocket and produces a green box, slightly smaller than Kazuto's. "This is Koharu's."

Kazuto takes the boz and opens it. Inside is a pair of glimmering silver rings, one large, thick, and plain, the other thin and embedded with a small diamond. Kazuto's mouth forms an o-shape as he looks back at Joshua. "For a moment, I was about to freak out."

"What do you mean?"

"I saw a ring and was thinking 'No freaking way' then I saw the one for you. Promise rings, huh? Sounds like you're copying me now." Kazuto smiles at the annoyed expression of his friend then looks beyond him to see two familiar forms approach them. He swiftly closes the box and hands it back to Joshua, then stands up to greet the new arrivals. "Asuna, Koharu, you've made it."

"Hi again, Kazuto."

"Sorry if we made you wait too long, but the snow...you know."

Kazuto shakes his head. "Don't worry about it, Asuna. I came a little too early, and well, so did he. Josh is not happy about it, though. Hot cocoa?" Asuna nods eagerly, taking the cup from her boyfriend and take two sips. She winces as she lowers the cup. She attempts to hand it back, but Kazuto silently tells her to hold on to it. Meanwhile, he turns his head to the other couple, Joshua and Koharu. The black-haired girl happily drinks from his cup as he rises to his feet and looks at Asuna.

"Oh, hi, Asuna."

"Oh, hell just froze over if you're saying hello to me so warmly."

"If it's a chilly reception you want, I do have one cold foot to shoot up your ass."

Koharu sighs as she steps to Kazuto's side. "There they go. Not even the spirit of Christmas can stop those two. Speaking of which, where are we going, Kazuto? I hear this is all your idea."

"I figured this is your first Christmas since SAO, the first Christmas the four of us can celebrate given that we didn't celebrate the first one we had together on the fourth floor of Aincrad, and last year, Joshua didn't really celebrate it given what happened days before, so... Why not rectify three birds with one stone? We can go get dinner, then there's a 'winter wonderland' with lights and decorations nearby in the park."

Koharu stares at Kazuto in awe. "You really planned this out for us... It's almost unbelievable."

"A-Almost?"

"Yes. The Kirito I knew probably wouldn't have gone this far, at least not without others' input. Which is to say, Joshua had no input in this?"

"Well... He made our reservations."

Joshua smirks. "Having a renown family name is an amazing superpower sometimes. Then again, all of us know that as Sword Art Online's heroes and heroines. But to Kaz's credit, this is the only thing I did. Everything else is his doing. I'm impressed as well."

Asuna beams with impression of Kazuto and grabs his arm. "Well, let's be off then. Lead us forward on our holi-date." Three pair of eyes freeze and hone in on Asuna as her face falls from glee to dismay. "Oh, but if Joshua said it, no one bats an eye but me?"

"The fact they also batted an eye at you says a lot."

"I don't want a lot for Christmas. There is just one thing I need. I don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree. I just want you for my own, more than you could ever know. Make my wish come truuuuuuuuuuuuuuuueeeeeeee. All I want...for Christmas...issssss...Joshua to break up with Koharuuuu."

"Hey, Rika, that's not the lyric!"

"I know that!"

"And wasn't it you that said we're here to forget about boys and have a girls' night out on Christmas Eve?"

"I know that too!" Rika glares at her audience of Keiko, Shino, Alice, Nijika, and Kotone, and sighs heavily. It is true, she invited the girls after school for a night of karaoke to celebrate the coming holiday as single ladies. She did also ban any mentioning of any boys they might be close to, for tonight is about the fellowship of sisterhood. Unfortunately, the originator of the plan has failed already in this regard. Even worse, she accidently invited Suguha along...and Suguha didn't get the memo that this was supposed to be a girls' only thing, flaunting her boyfriend around.

Of course, Rika is only doing this mostly for herself.

"This is getting sad, Rika," Kotone complains. "When are you all going to realize that Kazuto and Asuna are never breaking up? They're married several times over."

"Never, it's always a possibility that it can happen. I'll settle for Joshua and Koharu breaking up too."

Keiko rolls her eyes. "Because that worked out well the first time for you..."

"Huh? You got something to say, Keiko?"

"...Nothing."

"Then shut your mouth, and let me mope that I'm single for this Christmas. Unlike Boobies and Boobies Lover over there."

Suguha frowns while her boyfriend, Nagata, gulps. "No wonder... Just sing, Rika."

"I will!"

"It's so nice."

"Not too classy, but not too casual. A perfect blend. I take it you've been here before, Kazuto?"

Kazuto nods as the party of four takes their seats in the restaurant. "Mr. Kikuoka and I usually meet here, so I thought why not come here for fun for once. Of course, there's the issue of--"

"How expensive this is..." Koharu's face turns white as snow as she scans the menu. As a matter of fact, only the boys have a blood-filled face as the girls turn to a head-scratching Kazuto. "A-A-Are you sure you can afford this, Kazuto?"

"Yeah. My dad gave me more than enough money for today. But why are you concerned about me only?"

"Asking that question to Joshua is no concern...right?" As Koharu says that, she watches as Joshua takes out his phone and presses numbers on the calculator app. "Huh? Are you...calculating?"

"Twelve dollars for pudding? I dread to look at the entrees... Mom is gonna kill me when she sees my purchase history." He sighs and picks up his menu. "Oh well. Koharu, pick whatever you want."

"R-Really?"

"As you said, it's no concern for me."

"That's what you said for my birthday back then, but someone almost ran out of Col that day."

"Yeah, but it was worth every Col." The table goes quiet for a few seconds. The first to break silence is Koharu, whose face is scorching red. Asuna turns her head to the side, holding her hand to her mouth. Kazuto folds his lips, struggling to hold back his own laugh. Joshua glances at the couple across the table, confused. "What's so funny?"

"Dude, you sounded so lame."

"Lame?"

"I mean, it sounded cool, then the irony of it being said by you, who gave me hell for saying that stuff to Asuna... So yeah, lame." As Kazuto finishes that statement, Asuna fully releases her chuckle and Koharu joins in. Feeling dejected, Joshua backs down and immerses himself in the food menu. Kazuto smirks as the four quiet down, speaking again when the server comes for their drink orders. Once they were decided on their meals, conversation resumed. They spoke of real-world stuff, mostly how Joshua and Asuna are currently preparing for university exams are they (and three others, Rika, Kotone, and Tomo) graduate from the survivor school in three months ("I'm going to be twenty years old when we graduate," he lamented). Kazuto and Koharu (althought the latter is the same age as the third years) will graduate the following year, at the same time Suguha and Shino graduate from their respecitve schools. Keiko will be finishing her make-up for junior high this year, and could go to a normal high school if she chooses next spring.

"I almost feel bad for leaving you two behind," Asuna says solemnly. "I didn't think we'd ever have the chance to go to school together, and as soon as we do, it's almost over."

Joshua scoffs as he cuts a thick sirloin. "Anything to distance myself from Argo. But I do hate that we didn't get to spend all our schooltime together. Imagine if Sword Art Online didn't happen the way it did, how different things could have been."

Kazuto folds his arms over his plate. "Hmm... Well, the three of us and Klein met hours before we were trapped... Well, I guess we were trapped the moment we logged on, but you get my point. You and Koharu were going to play the game together regardless, right?"

Koharu nods and looks at her former partner in blissful rememberance. "Yeah, remember? We promised to play the whole thing together."

"Yeah. But I also knew Asuna in real life, barely, but still. Our families are close."

"I never asked, but how is that?"

"Our dads were best friends in all twelve years of school," Asuna answers with a sip of her tea. "Funny how things progressed to the next generation. With that said, there's a good chance the four of us would've met, death game or not. I'm sure Misumi would have convinced me to play SAO anyway. And, who knows...maybe the same events that led to us being together in the first place would have been different, but I have a feeling we'd be drawn together. Even if not in Sword Art, maybe in school. One of the schools I would've tested for would have been my father's alma mater, which means I would have met Joshua again."

"What school was that," Koharu asks.

"Central Tokyo Prep."

"No way, I would've tested there too! Imagine we all got in!"

"Woah, slow down, Ko," Joshua says. "There's a good chance you and I, and by extension, Asuna and I wouldn't have become friends. I was not very kind back then. Asuna was...not so kind either."

"He has a point, though for different reasons."

"I still believe we would have been friends if SAO never happened," Koharu answers back sternly. "I mean, sure, it is wishful thinking, but if it happened in a death game, it could happen in an alternate future. Maybe every single one of us could've been there...or anywhere. Well, not if I scored good enough for Eterna and you stayed there, Asuna."

Kazuto smiles. "Hey, it's not like we'll be alone or anything, Koharu, Keiko might not leave the survivors' school for at least another year when we graduate, but she has other friends there too. Asuna and Joshua's first choices for university are in the city, so they'll be here. I don't know about Rika, Kotone, or Tomo. If anything, Nijika's the one who missed out on going to school, but then again, she's a star idol. She's living her dream."

Koharu sighs as she stirs her pudding. "Okay, but still... No, I won't wish for a different world. This one's fine enough as is. You two better do well on your examinations, you hear? Especially you, mister."

"Hmph. As if I'd let Asuna take all the glory academically. If I win, Kazuto you gotta dump her."

Kazuto raises an eyebrow. "So you already accepted defeat and breaking up with Koharu?"

"...Whoever gets the highest overall score owes the other lunch."

It's now Asuna's turn to sneer. "Has placing bets with Shino not taught you anything?"

"So what you're saying is that you're confident you'll score better than Joshua?' Koharu chimes in. "If that's so, shall we raise the bet to a homecooked lunch?" Asuna and Joshua turn to each other, lock challenging eyes, and shake on the stipulation. Kazuto shakes his head, knowing the next two months are going to be competitive as it even between the two. Maybe in an alternate future, he's able to compete at their level, but not in this one. He's satisfied being their equal in virtual reality.

Their unified school days may be coming to an end, but it won't be the end of everything. Joshua and Asuna may embark on new beginnings, but nothing has broken them from Kazuto in the last two years--not entrapment in ALO, not two deadly plots in GGO, not the loss of memories in Ordinal Scale, not the two centuries in the Underworld, and not the fight for survival in Unital Ring. So the future, whatever it may hold for them beginning this snowy Christmas Eve, will not sever any ties between the four present at this table, and the bonds with the others absent.

"Last Christmas, I gave you my heart, but the very next day, you gave it away. This year, to save me from tears, I'll give it to someone special."

"Good luck on that, Keiko."

Keiko momentarily frowns, trying her best to ignore Rika's sour mood, and continues singing. "Once bitten and twice shy, I keep my distance, but you still catch my eye. Tell me, baby, do you recognize me? Well, it's been a year, it doesn't surprise me. 'Merry Christmas,' I wrapped it up and sent it with a note saying, 'I love you,' I meant it. Now I know what a fool I've been, but if you kissed me now, I know you'd fool me again... You know what, Rika's right!" Keiko sighs and looks at her audience.

Shino clears her throat. "Rika's...right about what?"

"We don't need those dumb boys. I-I mean, Kazuto and Joshua are excellent boys, but the thing is...we can do much better than them. Like, much better! Then next year, we can have our own boyfriends to flaunt around."

"Oh, that's what you mean." Kotone sighs and leans back in her part of the U-shaped booth. "You are right, though. Keiko, you are super cute and about to enter high school. Tons of...hormonal boys to play with at your fingertips. And you still got time to...fill out up here. These are the 'jingle bells' and once you get them, boys will deck your halls."

Nijika groans. "That's not true."

"Well, you're a pop idol, so it doesn't matter that you're lacking. Same to you, Shino, you got a little time left to grow too."

Shino clicks her tongue and adjusts her glasses. "If the size of breasts truly brought in boys, then you and Rika would not be here right now. The mere fact you are proves your point is illogical."

Rika smirks, though it isn't because she's happy to hear that. "That sounded very smart for you, Shino. What's the secret, then?"

"Clearly it must be a personality issue, which someone hasn't been consistent with in months."

"And you're brimming with rainbows? Seems the world of guns has dulled your personality."

"Well, if its looks that truly matter, tell me why Jo--"

"Girls!" Keiko interrupts before a fight explodes between the sniper and the blacksmith. "We don't have to fight over this. We have several first hand accounts on the matter."

"Do we?" Alice questions.

"Yes. Earlier this year, when we went back to school after the holiday break, Joshua told me that the most important things are breasts and legs. Kotone has them. Rika has them. Klein's girlfriend has them. Asuna and Koharu have them too, especially Koharu since she's a former athelete. And speaking of athletes... Suguha." Several eyes hone in on the younger Kirigaya, who has her face covered in embarassment.

"Please don't bring me into this."

Rika shakes her finger. "Not you, but you, Nagata."

The quiet boy timidly shifts his glasses. "Y-Yes?"

"Kazuto's not here, and nothing said here will hopefully make it to his ears. So you can be honest... What is it about Suguha that you like? Is it those...'jingle bells' on her chest, her atheletically toned body, that cute, innocent face, or something else? Answer us...for research purposes."

Nagata looks at Suguha for help. Seeing no way out of this, she nods to him. He then searches for his answer on the table at the center of the room. "Well... If I must be honest, I will admit that I...do like those things, but what guy wouldn't?"

Rika crosses her arms victoriously. "See?"

"But...That's not why I like her. It's true that she could have any other guy, I know I'm nothing special. I'm not in kendo, I'm somewhat of a timid coward most times, and I'm pretty plain. I think my only redeeming quality is that I am academically better than her, if that means anything, and I have more gaming experience like a boy generally would. But I also know none of that matters to her. I don't know when she started having feelings for me, but I liked her since we first met as middle-schoolers. I liked that she was kind, earnest, determined. Of all the girls I've known, she's been the easiest to talk to and be around. She made me want to better than I already was. And when Jaymes gave me the courage to ask her out, I took a chance, and was surprised she'd go out with a plain boy like me. Sugu's...well, she's my partner, and I'm hers. I think that's why we're okay now after so long, and why I love her."

Suguha looks to be on the verge of tears as she wraps her arms around Nagata's neck. "That was so nice. I love you too!"

Keiko stares daggers at the lovey-dovey couple. "Rika, go get me a bucket to fa-la-la-la-la in."

"You remember the second Christmas?" Koharu asks as she and her friends walk through a park brimming with Christmas lights. Some are placed on the foliage, others are on stands with various designs, such as Santa riding his sleigh or a giant Christmas ornament.

"Yeah. We weren't together for it, however." Asuna pauses at a set of lights set up as a reindeer, smiling as it nose lights up red. "I didn't do much for that one either. We gave the front lines a break from advancing the game from Thanksgiving to New Year's, so there wasn't much to do."

"I wish we'd known, we could have come and...well, probably not, huh?"

Joshua shakes his head. "Probably. But we were trying to find a way to restore that picture's data, remember? We met Yui too."

Koharu nods. "Yeah... I wish we could have kept that picture. At least one memento that Sword Art Online wasn't entirely horrible."

"I agree... Kazuto, are you okay?"

Kazuto blinks twice as he hears Asuna call his name, not realizing he spaced out while staring at the reindeer. Looking at it while the others reminisence about SAO reminded him of his second Christmas. "Oh...it's nothing. Just...thinking about...nevermind."

"Something is wrong," Asuna says with an all-to-familiar fixed glare. "and you're being too quiet, which means you're holding in some burden."

"That girl knows you well."

"You can tell us, Kazuto."

Kazuto looks away from Koharu's worried face to his snow-covered feet, clenching his feet. "It's just...you're the only one who doesn't know the truth, Koharu...about Sachi and the Moonlit Black Cats."

"What...do you mean? I know they died, and how, Joshua told me everything. What happened wasn't you fault in the slightest. But was does that have to...with you and Christmas?"

He looks at Joshua, who confirms Koharu's admission with a nod. Well, that takes care of the heaviest burden. "That second Christmas, I tried bringing her back. You remember the rumor around that time?"

She thinks on it. "If I remember correctly, there was a rumor about a revival crystal as a drop. But when we heard about it, we were in the middle of the quest with Yui. That a event monster, 'Nicholas the Regenade' will appear and drop that item. Argo sent us a message asking us to check it out, but by the time we finished what we were doing and got there, Klein told us it was beaten." She gasps and glances at Kazuto. "That was you?"

Kazuto nods. "Klein's group and the Divine Dragon Alliance followed me, and Fuurinkazan held off the DDA as I fought Nicholas. But there's a part I never told any of you... The rumor was true. A single use revival crystal, usable up to ten seconds after a player dies. I gave it to Klein...but if I should have given it to anyone, it should have been you two."

"And Klein tried giving it to us, but I refused." Joshua says, shocking Kazuto. He folds his arms and sighs. "In retrospect, maybe I should have taken it. It would have been a nice failsafe, but I didn't know that Klein got it from you. My only interest was getting the truth to Argo, so I refused his offer. I didn't know I would have needed two months later... ANd while we're confessing, I guess I should tell you that you weren't the one who told me that Sachi died, just how it happened. I strangely recieved a gift from her just as Christmas Day struck."

"Y-You too?"

"Mhm. She told me that if I'm recieving this, she's most likely dead. She also told me to forgive you. That you lied about your level, but she peeked one day and saw the truth. As the first people she knew to be strong, and knowing how you might be feeling, she told me and Koharu to not be angry with you, but to watch over you. It was one fo the few times I saw Joshua cry so much."

"I did not cry."

"You were crying like a baby! I saw icicles from your eyes."

Asuna chuckles. "Oh, I'd pay to see that. Anyway, what did Sachi tell you, Kazuto?"

"She said...that the reason she recorded it was because she knew I'd blame myself if she and the Moonlit Black Cats died. That she was happy she knew my true power. That she was happy someone as weak as her got to meet someone like me. For me to continue living,and find the reason why the two of us met." Kazuto takes a deep breath and faces away from the reindeep. "I'm being a bummer, huh?"

"Yes, you are," Joshua says while slapping Kazuto's shoulder. "I don't think there's anything that can ruin my mood right no-"

"Oi, it's the fantastic four!" Everyone turns to see a redheaded man wave to them. Holding on to his arm is a woman of similar age with dark green hair. As they approach, Kazuto and Koharu chuckle as Joshua looks like he's going to be sick. Asuna rests her elbow on his shoulder and looks at the approaching couple of Klein and Zeliska.

"You were saying?"

"Silent night, holy night. All is calm and all is bright. 'Round yon virgin Mother and Child. Holy infant so tender and mild. Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace. Shino."

"Silent night, holy night. Sheperds quake at the sight. Glories stream from heaven afar. Heavenly hosts sing alleuia. Christ, the Savior is born, Christ, the Savior is born. Nijika."

"Silent night, holy night. Son of God, love's pure light. Radiant stream from Thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace. Jesus Lord, at Thy birth. Jesus Lord, at Thy birth."

As Kotone, Nijika, and Shino finish a rendition of "Silent Night," Rika turns to Alice, who hasn't gone yet. "Hey, Alice, it's your turn. Actually, it's been your turn several times. You haven't sang once."

Alice looks at the karoake machine oddly. "Oh, has it? I've been caught up in...your singing and other discussions...and something else."

"What is it?"

"...In the Underworld, we don't really have a concept of this Christmas. Well, not of the Underworld that I knew, Kirito and the others may have introduced it, but not when I was there. Of course, I don't remember my past life as Alice Zuberg, so there's that... What I'm trying to say is that... I don't know how to celebrate this day."

"That makes sense," Shino says. She turns to the rest of the girls, and they all nod in unison. "Well, there's a religous compartment to it, but otherwise, you spend time with those you hold dear. To show you how... Alice, how about we all sing a song together?"

"T-Together?"

Keiko nods. "This is your first Christmas, and all we've done is lament about love and stuff. But we'll show you the magic of the holiday season, so next year, you can celebrate it right."

Alice looks at her lap, then takes a resolute breath. "Okay."

Rika smiles as she gets up and quickly selects a song. "We'll each sing a line, but the chorus is sung together. Got it?" Everyone nods and Rika starts the song. "Hang low the mistletoe, I'm going to get to know you better. This Christmas."

Keiko picks up from there. "And as we trim the tree, how much fun it's gonna be together. This Christmas. Everyone!"

"Fireside's blazing bright, we're caroling through the night. And this Christmas will be a very special Christmas for me." As the chrous ends, all eyes are on Alice. She looks apprenhensive, but musters up her courage and picks up the next line.

"Presents and cards are here. My world is filled with cheer, and you. This Christmas."

"Great job, Alice!" Kotone cheers, then quickly sings her part "And as I look around, your eyes outshine the town, they do. This Christmas."

"Fireside's blazing bright, we're caroling through the night. And this Christmas will be a very special Christmas for me, yeah!"

"Shake a hand, shake a hand now," As the girls shake hands and laugh, Nijika takes the mic from Suguha, and clears her throat to lead off the rest of the song.

"Fireside's blazing bright--"

"--we're caroling through the night--"

"--And this Christmas will be--"

"--a very special Christmas for me, yeah."

"Merry Christmas."

"Can't believe we ran into Klein and Zeliska. I'm still not comfortable about that." Joshua leans on the balcony outside Koharu's apartment, the host bringing out two hot mugs of cocoa. He takes one and takes a sip of the warm dark liquid, then glances out to their snowy neighborhood. "That almost ruined my night."

Koharu chuckles as she stands beside him. "You brought them together, and things are working out between them."

"Yeah, I guess. But that also mean Klein's...oh, disgusting thoughts are filling my head. Change the subject."

"Well...then here." Koharu produces a black, rectangular box from her pocket, tied with a red ribbon. "Merry Christmas, Joshua."

"Oh, thanks. Guess I'll open it now." He could have done that, but he decides in that moment to mess with Koharu. Setting his mug down, he takes the box and inspects it. After giving it a few twists and turns, a shake here and there, he looks at Koharu, whose excitement is turning into frustration each passing second. "It's not a pen, isn't it? I have too many of those already."

"Hmph."

"Or a 10,000 yen bill. Koharu, how you know? I've always wanted one."

"Hmmmmph."

"Okay, I'll stop messing around." He unties the ribbon and, with playful hesitation, opens the box. Upon sight of the object, his mouth hangs slightly as he picks the small item out the box with his fingers. It's a pin designed as a sword and shield. He found it in a mall a couple of weeks ago while shopping wtth Koharu and their friends Sanya, Shivata, and Liten. "You... You actually got this?"

She nods bashfully. "You said you liked it, and I didn't know what to get you, so..."

"It's awesome," he replies excitedly. "I... I mean, I already got the best gift I could get this year, so...this is a cherry on top. Oh, now it's your turn. Here." He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the green box. Koharu takes it, undoing the bow. As she opens the box, her face lights up and she faces Joshua in surprise.

"No...no way... I mean, I'm not rejecting, but aren't we a--"

"They're promise rings, Koharu. Sheesh."

"Oh... Hehehe, that explains why there's two of them." Joshua nods and takes the box back, picking out the smaller ring for Koharu.

"As I said, the best gift possible for me has already been given, and that was the minute you descended from the heavens to the Underworld. A minute that, no matter how days pass and how many days we spend together, I still am in disbelief in. That one day, I'll wake up, and the fact you're alive is nothing but a fever dream. Yet you're here, right in front of me...and I want to never wake up from that dream."

Koharu smiles while fighting back tears. "If this is a dream of a girl who is in her last moments, then I don't want her to fade."

"I actually have nothing to promise with this ring. Nothing we never said before, and I don't think it's worth repeating. But I'll say it anyway." Joshua holds the ring up as Koharu projects her left hand, and slides it down her ring finger. "Koharu... I promise to remain an integral factor in your life. Today, tomorrow, and forever."

Koharu nods, picks up the second ring, and places it on Joshua's hand. "Yeah. We'll always be together. I'll never stop being your partner, after all... Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas."

"Tonight was fun, right?"

"Of course. Three second and third-year high school girls, a third year-junior high girl, a idol, and...an AI from another world are standing at this bridge, in this part, in this damn cold."

"Don't forget Suguha brought her boyfriend along."

"How long will I recieve hell for that? We made plans to hang out prior, and, well... I wanted him to hang out with my friends too. Sorry."

"Ignore Rika, Keiko, and Kotone. They haven't recovered since Nagata's little speech."

"It was a nice speech."

"Yeah, yeah, but you know what was nicer?" Rika pushes herself off the rail of the bridge and faces the six girls behind her. "Us. We spent the entire time together without those four. That means a lot to me. I will admit, it is hard to see Joshua with Koharu. Kazuto and Asuna are an annoyingly loving bunch too. I'm sure, one boy or another, we wish we were in Asuna or Koharu's position... But tonight proved that bond is beyond them."

Shino nods. "You're right. This season is meant to be spent with those we hold dear to our hearts. But not just what boy we may like, but the girls we can call best friends. No, something greater than that."

"Sisters," Kotone answers, then looks to Nijika. "I've called Nijika that for a long time now, but at the same time, every single one of you is a sister to me."

Suguha chuckles. "You know, I've always wanted a sister. Didn't think I'll have so many in a short amount of time. And I'm thankful for all of you having my brother's back despite all the trouble he gets us into."

"How could we not? Kazuto had our backs first in SAO, or wherever we met him. And by extension, so did Jaymes, Asuna, and Koharu." Keiko looks to Rika, grabbing her hand. "But when I really need someone, Rika's always been there too."

"Aww."

Alice's face becomes strained as she looks at the partially frozen stream running over the bridge. "I...have a sister back home, you know. And you know I had another too in the Integrity Knights, and for a short while, a girl I fought in the ACTF and the war with. Eydis was the closest thing to a older sibling that I can remember fondly. my time with Medina was short but cherished. As for Selka, I can only hope that, with the short time I spent with her as Alice Synthesis Thirty, she really considered me her sister as she did Alice Zuberg. With that said... I hope that I can be considered one of you one day. Not just as the Fluctlight you saved in the Underworld and brought to the Real World, but...a sister as well."

Rika shakes her head. "In due time? No, Alice. You're one of us already."

Keiko nods. "I agree!"

Shino chuckles. "At the very least, you're part of the 'Kirito and Jaymes Went Through Hell and Back For A Girl' gang. Unfortunately the present body is not the full extent of it. There's Tia and Premiere, as you know. Guess we'll add this Eydis and Medina to Joshua's individual list, and don't forget Momiji."

Kotone cups her chin. "Didn't Kazuto say he had apprentices in the Underworld? And he spent lots of times with the knights there, right? Some of them had to be female."

"Joshua had one too, I remember him saying that."

"Added. And let's not start on what happened in Unital Ring."

"Right, hehehe..."

"What are you girls doing out so late?" Everyone turns to see a newcomer approaching the bridge, her black hair done in a side ponytail, blue eyes sharp and piercing. "What is this? The melancholy girl group?"

Shino chuckles. "Speak of the devil. Nice to see you made it, Momiji. Merry Christmas."

Momiji nods. "Merry Christmas to everyone... Now I'm all for having a girls' night, but don't you get tired of standing on bridges, Rika?"

"You're right. It's about time I cross it... And what about you?"

"Let's see. Worked until early afternoon, took a four hour train ride from Kyoto to here, and the damn idiot wasn't home... I could go for cake."

"Night is still young," Nijika notes. "There's a cafe nearby too."

Rika turns back to Momiji. "Well? Your call"

"Well, 'Operation: Christmas Girls' Night Out' is not over until we had some sweets and stuff ourselves to make Saint Nick look healthier! All in favor say 'aye!'"

"Aye!"

"Here you are. Home." Kazuto stops at the gate of Asuna's home, watching as the chesnut-haired girl crossses over to the other side.

"Thanks for walking me home, but you didn't have to. It's going to be a while before you get home yourself."

"I know, but...he'd kill me." Kazuto chuckles then shuffles his feet on the ground nervously. "Hey, um..."

"What is it, Kazuto?"

"Ah, um... Well, um, you see... Here!" He quickly hands her the black box he's had with him all night, unable to look Asuna in the eye while giving it to her. He feels its weight vanish from his hand, hears the ribbon and box move, and the soft gasp from Asuna to culminate the scene. He looks up from his feet to her, seeing her shocked expression at the silver pendant with a sapphire hanging like a teardrop from the chain.

"This..."

"It's... I actually don't remember the name of it. But I think it's...um, you know, it's pretty."

Asuna's eyes are glued to the"This was...really expensive, wasn't it?"

"Well, um...Y-Yeah. I'm...not proud of what I had to do to get it, but the reason I dropped my pride and bought it anyway is because...well... I just thought it...might look good on you or something."

Asuna goes quiet as she closes the box, and let the silence linger for a few seconds. "...Hey, Kazuto. I think I know what you did, and I should scold the both of you for it..." For the first time tonight, Kazuto fears Asuna's wrath, and it won't be just directed at him. She takes a deep breath, and upon exhaling, looks at him with a smile. "But... I think... I'm really...really happy you gave me this."

His white breath clouds his vision, relieved to hear her positive words. "O=Oh! You are? Great--Mmmmh!" Cut off by Asuna claiming his lips, he's surprised by the sudden kiss across the gate. Eventually, his mind catches up, and he melts into it and raises his gloved hand to her face. As Asuna separates from him, she laughs and steps back.

"Thank you... Merry Christmas, Kazuto."

"Yeah, Merry Christmas, Asuna."

Merry Christmas, everyone, and Happy Holidays!