Key:

Narration/Action

"Dialogue"

Thoughts

Flashback

Kazuto just got off the horse wagon with Eugeo and Alice. He was excited to go home again..

"So Kazuto what are you gonna do when you get home?" Eugeo asked

"Kiss my bed." he replied

Eugeo and Alice laughed in response.

"This is where we part, see ya Alice, Eugeo."

Eugeo and Alice live together with Bercouli since Eugeo also lost his parents on that day.

He went in a narrow alleyway to cut through his house the alleyway was filled with homeless people and had a musty smell and it was messy with half eaten food and the air smelt musty aswell.

Kazuto stopped in front of the door to his house.

Would they be angry with me, I told them I was doing my best but the truth is I'm below average. They gave me this opportunity, would they be angry with me if I told them the truth..?

He knocked on the door, His uncle opened the door.

"Uncle!"

"Welcome home, little man." Mintaka exclaimed.

Kazuto went inside only to be tackled into a hug by Sugha running into him.

"Kirito, I missed you!"

"Well I'm here now." He said as he patted her head.

"Welcome home Kazuto." Midori said

"I'm back." He hugged her.

"Going to make dinner soon, so you can put your stuff in your room."

"Ok, I will."

He took his luggage upstairs and unpacked and put it in his closet, he came across his trainee uniform and thought back to what Bercouli said to him.

"Kazuto, stop by my office later."

A few cadets looked at him in a mocking way and made fun of him.

Great just fucking great.

After the training exercise

I knocked on the door to the instructor's office.

"Who is it?"

"Kazuto."

"Come on in."

"You wanted to speak to me, sir?"

"Yes, please sit."

I took the chair out and sat on it

"I recommend you drop out."

I was angry that he said that. I managed to control myself and somehow instead of feeling anger it turned into sadness. I could tell why he recommended that.

"Look, Kazuto I am only recommending this because you're falling behind, not because I don't think you are good enough, but also because I don't want my cadets to die."

"How far am I behind?"

"Out of 300 you are 299"

"Do I have a chance at graduating?"

"In order to qualify for graduation you need to be at least ranked 250"

"Shit." I whispered to myself as I looked down in disappointment.

"Don't fret, you still have more than enough time to improve."

I just looked down at the wooden board floor with nothing but guilt.

"Besides you have something no one else has."

"Huh?"

"Your last name is Kirigaya right?"

"Yeah but what does that have to do with anything?"

"Your uncle, I graduated with him and I seem to recall he's a captain in the Military Police."

"Wait, you knew my uncle?" He asked with a confused look on his face.

"I still do."

"Oh of course" The way he said it made it seem like he is dead.

"Ask him for some advice, he graduated top 10 with me, he might be able to help you even if just a little"

I see… "Ok I will"

How am I gonna ask my uncle..

A knock on Kazuto's Kazuto's door was heard, He opened the door only to find Sugha behind it. behind it.

"Hi, Kirito."

"Hey."

She sat next to him on the bed.

"How's school Sugu?"

"Good, I started highschool and have lots of friends."

"Woah is Sugu the Queen Bee of high school?"

"N-no I'm not."

"Relax, I am just teasing you." he gave a light noogie on her head..

"Guys come down, I made dinner!" Midori yelled at them.

They went down as Kazuto was going down he smelled a sweet aroma

Is this Teriyaki chi-

"Surprise! I made your favorite Teriyaki chicken burgers." Said Midori

"Thanks Auntie." He sat down next to Sugu

As they ate, Midori decided to ask him some questions..

"So how is the cadet corps?"

"Good."

"Let me guess, you're the top of your class."."

He hesitated, pondering what to say. Midori got the message that he wasn't because of that so she tried something else.

"Well even if you are not, as long as you are trying your best I'm happy."

What if my best isn't enough..?

"Yep.."

Minetaka wasn't buying it at at all,, he decided to confront him later

He cleared his throat..

"I have good news.."

"Are you getting promoted to commander, dad?" Sugu asked

"No, no captain's enough for me, I'm getting a raise."

"That's great news dear, I'm happy for you."

"Yeah me too dad, does this mean we are moving further inside?"

"No.." How would he put it, the interior had a high rate of crime and corruption he didn't want to scare his family.

"I just have a lot of work to do and I am afraid that I won't be able to help you guys settle in."

"Don't worry we have Kirito to help!" she said cheerily with a smile

He cleared his throat, "Like your father I am going to be busy with the cadet corps and...wherever I choose to go."

Oh right… She picked up her burger and continued eating. The atmosphere was brought down a little because Kazuto used 'your father' which made it seem like he was not a part of the family. He still called them Aunt and Uncle respectively though.

After the family dinner they had some cake. Kazuto went up to his room a little depressed, Minetaka followed after him, Sugu was about to until she heard.

"Sweetie come help me with the trash, would you mind?"

"Ok mom, coming!

She was helping her and noticed her mother was doing the garbage just fine "Mom why'd you call me, you don't need my help."

"Yeah but why I can't spend some time with my favorite daughter"

"Silly mom, I'm your only daughter" She laughed as they went to take out the garbage.

Kazuto lied on his bed I'm not gonna make it… he thought someberly

A faint knock was heard at the door "Come in."

"Uncle?" Kazuto raised an eyebrow.

"What can't I come see my own nephew in my own house now?" Uncle jokingly said.

This wouldn't have happened if I died instead. He chuckled "No, you can I was just curious on why you are here.

"How's the Cadet corps?"

"I said it was fine." He looked down solemnly

"Not what your face says."

He smiled trying not to show it.

"That's not working."

"Ok, fine I'm doing horrible I'm second to last…" he tried not to meet his uncles gaze

He sighed, "I'm not disappointed, just talk to me Kazu."

"What, how are you going to help me?"

He looked at Kazuto… Well here goes nothing

"What is your goal once you graduate?" Minetaka asked.

"To join the scouts…"

"That's it…?"

He sighed "I want to avenge my mother?"

Kazuto looked up at him and his uncle looked at him with disappointment. "Are you angry with me?"

"No, but that's a short term goal."

"What do you mean?"

"What are you going to do after the goal is done?"

"I will probably never achieve it."

"Say you do, what will you do next, leave the scouts. Starting a new life ain't gonna be easy, by the time you join the scouts you'll be seventeen and your youth will be gone soon then. It's not going to be easy to get a civil job when you aren't even in possession of a high school diploma. Plus even after you get revenge you're not completely satisfied. So ask yourself, what is your LONG TERM goal?" He took a big breath then left Kazuto shocked.

"I'll think about it, Uncle."

He's right I enlisted for a reason, a selfish one at that.

"Good, now tell me what you are struggling with in the Cadet corps."

"It's whenever I utilize the ODM gear and hand to hand combat even though it's not graded."

"I understand worrying about ODM, but why hand to hand?"

"I don't want to half ass my training."

"I see, well I can help with hand to hand, I can only give advice on ODM since we aren't authorized to use it here. Describe your issue."

He sighed, Well here goes nothing. "Well every time I go airborne I look at the ground and get scared and I just freeze."

"Well there's your problem, just don't look at the ground."

"Then what do I look at?"

"Your destination, Here's how I see it, When airborn you always want to keep moving forward, if you look at the ground you are going to end up hitting it, So just look forward. That's how it was for me atleast."

Wow, that actually makes sense… He nodded his head in understanding

"For, hand to hand I can actually help. As an MP, I have to utilize it on a daily basis."

"You're going to teach me!?" Kazuto said with excitement

"Not now it's getting too late. How about in the morning after breakfast?"

He nodded his head excitedly

"Ok boy, try not to let your head roll off."

He laughed, as his uncle left to go to bed he had a lot to think about as sleep slowly overtook

Earlier that day….

Alice and Eugeo were sitting by the riverbank, they were alone as he thought back to Kazuto's words.

"Just do it, don't be scared."

The river was slowly flowing across. Just as Eugeo was slowly building up his courage. He looked at the person beside him, and they locked eyes for a moment.

"What are you looking at?" Alice asked.

"N-nothing." Eugeo apologized, the courage he built up was sapped away by such a simple statement.

"You know what, Eugeo?" Alice asked again.

"What?"

Alice tucked her head in an upright fetal position. "I.. hate you."

Eugeo was shocked but tried his best to hide it from Alice. He felt a bump on his throat as he held back tears.

"I'm the complete opposite." Eugeo said. Alice looked up at him and was shocked to hear such a straightforward answer from him. Tears started flowing from both of them.

Alice sniffled. "That's mean. You're mean Eugeo."

"Alice." Eugeo hugged her.

"This is like last time right?" She asked. "It's a joke right, you're not actually serious?"

It took Eugeo a moment to answer. "I mean it."

There was nothing to hold back now as more tears flowed over two pairs of eyes. The riverbank was silent, for Eugeo and Alice were alone. It lasted for a while. Then Alice finally looked up again, with a renewed resolve.

"Eugeo, listen."

Eugeo wiped the last of his tears and nodded.

"I need to think about this, like really hard."

"Ok, just take your time." Eugeo was tempted to say more but all of this was just too much, even for him.

It was now breakfast time as Kazuto was eating breakfast in a hurry to train with his laughed at him. After breakfast he went downstairs with his Uncle.

"Woah…" He was mesmerized all the equipment that his uncle had

"Like what you see?"

"I don't know what to do first."

"Easy there skipper, first I need to see what your body can handle.."

"..." There was a pause of silence. Kazuto was expecting his uncle to say something. Instead he charged at him and punched him in the gut. He bent over in agony

"Ouch, What was that for..?" Minetaka seemed to be in deep thought he made a thinking face while looking at Kazuto's chest.

"Take off your shirt,"

"W-w-what?" he stammered, making sure he heard him right.

"Just do it."

Kazuto began to take off his shirt and once he did Minetaka seemed to be in deep thought Oh boy, he looks like a noodle regardless i see potential.

Mintaka was suddenly taken out of thought "...ello, Uncle?"

"Oh uh sorry, I was analyzing your strength."

"Oh.." he covered his chest in embarrassment.

"So when can we start…?"

"Not today,"

"What?"

"Today we are going to start with weight lifting."

"Why not some martial arts?" he asked impaintenly

"Not with that body, It won't be able to handle it."

"Okay…then what?"

"Weight lifting"

Kazuto followed his uncle to a shelf that held multiple dumbbells. He could barely lift 25 so Mintaka suggested the 15 pounders until he was ready to move up. He recommended 5 sets of push ups and sit ups. Kazuto did it for a week.

It's been a week since then, it was now lunch time.

"So Kirito, how has your training been?"

"Good Sugha."

"So does this mean you're this 'all badass supersoldier' now?"

He chuckled at his little sister "I wish, this is just to help me when I graduate."

"Oh ok"

He ate his food as he remembered a conversation with his uncle.

He was breathing heavily and sweating, my lungs are going to die. Footsteps were heard his uncle came to check up on him.

"How ya doin champ?" He asked

"What do you think?" Added with a hint of sarcasm

"Look I know these exercises seem pointless right-"

"Ohhh really?"

"Look, Kazuto the more muscle you have it'll be easier to maneuver while using ODM."

"Aren't you in the Military Police, why would you utilize it?"

"I was utilizing it while I was in the cadet corps."

"Oh."

"Now I know this might seem hard at first but if you do it, you will see the fruits of your

labor." He said in an inspiring voice

Kazuto was struggling but he did see that his uncle had a point.

That was 3 days ago.

He finished his breakfast and went downstairs. His uncle said to meet him there. Kazuto went to do his set's first footsteps were heard coming down and he saw it was his uncle and stopped momentarily.

"Why'd you stop champ, keep going."

He continued his sets, Minetaka was observing him. How do I know he is ready? He didn't want to kill him like what he would put his men through, After all he was family. Kazuto was done with his sets.

"I'm done."

"Come here, champ."

He walked over to him, Minetaka jabbed him in the stomach Kazuto groaned in response but noticed it didn't hurt as much.

"What was that for?!"

"It didn't hurt as much as the first time, right?"

"How- that's not the point, why'd you punch me?"

He looked at him straight in the eyes and said "I think you're ready."

Kazuto widened his eyes like a child getting a gift for christmas and said "Really, what are we going to do judo, karate, kung fu. No wait, all of them?" Jumping up and down like a child

He chuckled, "Easy there champ, that's going to take a while, let's start with something more basic… like boxing"

"Oh.. ok, that seems like a good start."

Mintaka grabbed a punching bag off the floor and hooked it on the ceiling.

"Watch me first Kazuto."

He watched him with amazement; his fist strikes were so precise and accurate. My uncle is so cool as he watched him with amazement.

"You're turn champ."

"Mhm."

He got in a stance similar to his uncle's and hit the punching bag, until his uncle said.

"Wait, you forgot these'' He tossed Kazuto a box of tape "this is used to protect your hands as you hit it."

Kazuto smiled, "Thanks."

He wrapped the tape on his hands and got to work 1-2 jab, 1-2 jab.

"Faster!"

The next 2 days were 'hell' according to Kazuto, everyday for two hours a day he did his sets and received instruction from Minetaka.

He did the same thing next week but it was much easier for him as he got used to it.

Kazuto just finished his workout but it would be his last one since his uncle only had a week off.

"Kazuto, are you there?"

"Yes, Auntie?"

"Can you help me shop, I don't want to bother Sugha, she went out with her friends."

Better than staying here cooped up reading manga, waiting to workout again maybe I'll see Eugeo and Alice "Sure, let me get ready."

He went upstairs and grabbed his jacket and quickly went down. He saw that his aunt was ready with the cart. They walked up to a fish vendor while Midori was conversing with them.

He looked around and saw Eugeo strolling and called out to him

"Hey Eugeo!" he waved at him

He noticed Kazuto and walked over to him. "Hey…"

"Eugeo are you ok?"

"Yeah…" He really didn't want to tell him.

"C'mon bro I can read you like a book…"

"I fucked up, with Alice."

Kazuto's eyes went wide. "You confessed again?"

"Yes but… she isn't ready and wants to wait."

"And, how is that a bad thing?" He furrowed his eyebrows.

"What if she is wooed by another guy and changes her mind about me."

Kazuto understood his dilemma "First of all Alice isn't like the other girls, she won't be easily swayed."

"How do you know?"

"Remember in 5th that time this girl said you peeked at her because you didn't accept her feelings and tried to get revenge by doing so?"

Eugeo nodded his head

"Well she didn't accept that, she said 'Eugeo wouldn't do that' and stopped at nothing to prove your innocence."

"What, she did that?"

"Yep, even though you were despised for a bit by the girls, Alice believed you were innocent."

Damn 10 year old me really fucked up Eugeo sighed

"Look how I see it, you play your cards right she'll eventually open up to you."

"Damn, that was deep, how come you don't have a girlfriend?"

He cheekily smiled and replied " That's cause coaches don't play."

"Well, what about Sachi?" he looked at Kazuto with a toothy grin

"Kazuto can you help me push the cart to the meat vendor?"

Thank the lord "Of course auntie" he was about to push the cart.

"Oh I'm sorry Eugeo, I didn't notice you"

"It's ok, Mrs. Kirigaya."

"Well next time you should come over, I would love to get to know you better and you can talk to

Kazu longer"

"Sure, but you guys look busy I had to go anyways see ya" he waved to both of them who did it in return. He walked in the opposite direction.

Damn that dream I had seems so real. He didn't really worry about it until what his father said at the end. "If you want to protect Alice and Kazuto… " then he couldn't hear the rest. What could that possibly mean? Oh well no use pondering it He went to his house to take a nap.

"Kazuto, are you ok?"

"Yes auntie, why?"

"When we left your face flushed red, do you have a fever?"

"O-oh it's nothing, Eugeo was teasing me."

"About?"

"Nothing, it's just some boy stuff…"

"Oh." Probably about his crush. She didn't want to interfere and did not press the issue forward.

As they entered the meat store, Midori waved her friend to come over and she noticed a smaller female walking with her who looked to be about Kazuto's age. She was a brunette in her early 30's

"Noriko, I haven't seen you in a while."

"Hello Midori, who's this?" she looked at Kazuto "Never told me you had a son."

"Oh no, he's my nephew, his name is Kazuto and is living with us for… reasons."

Noriko got the message and didn't pry. "oh well hello there, Kazuto do you know my daughter Sachi?"

At this his heart sped up, "Um.. yeah we are in the same cadet class after all."

"Oh how wonderful, I hope you two are getting along."

"U-m yeah we are." Sachi smiled at this

"Oh by the way Noriko I spotted some fresh meat over there let's go"

"Sure, you guys can handle yourselves right?"

"Yes." Both Sachi and Kirito said.

Well this is awkward. Both of them thought

"Hey Kazu"

"Hi Sachi, Never thought i'd run into you here."

"Well it's not like I said I was from wall rose during indoctrination… but I guess you weren't paying attention.."

"I mean how could I, I was too busy mentally preparing myself on what to say when the instructor would question me and I did not want to be kneed in the groin." At this they both giggled at each other.

Midori looked at them from a distance to be young and in love.

"But it was funny when he didn't even question you." Sachi laughed.

Oh god her smile. Kazuto's chest felt warm.

"Hypothetically, if he did what would you say?"

"Hmm… To join the scouts"

"Why?"

"I know this sounds uh crazy but to explore and discover the rest of the world"

"Wow, thought you were going to say something edgy and say 'to wipe out the titans'..."

He looked at her, "That's my secondary goal."

"You were that prepared?"

"No, I probably would've been kneed at the time" They both laughed.

Kazuto and Midori arrived at home and he immediately went downstairs to exercise. A few days later it was time for the Cadet corps to resume again. Sugha hugged Kazuto.

"I'll miss you, Kirito" she said it in a somber tone

"Same here."

"Now now, give this old lady a hug." They laughed

Midori notice Kazuto look around as if looking for his uncle "He would've stayed if he could've" but due to his workload he only got 1 week off.

"Bye!" He smiled at them.

"Hey Alice, Eugeo." as he met them on the train.

"Heyo" they both said

Eugeo and Kazuto both sat next to each other, while Alice sat next to Sachi. He was debating on whether he should tell him about his nightmare.

"Hey Kazuto, I had this weird dream."

I guess he's opening up to me. "Uh-uh" he gestured for him to go on

"Well I guess you could call it a nightmare but it feels really weird"

"How long has this been happening?"

"It happened once but I always remember 'if you want to protect Kazuto and Alice' I had this when we were at the refugee camp."

"Does Alice know?"

"Of course not."

I see they talked about it but got nowhere and decided it was just a normal nightmare. Sooner or later they arrived at the trainee camp and their gruesome training would continue.

I would like to give a thank you to my new co-writer (Winq_Inq) who helped me alot and will help me with future chapters. Feedback is appreciated.