Yui pouted facing Kirito. The guild was about to head out for the floor 25 boss battle. Kirito and Yui had figured out that it was possible for Yui to watch the battle through a video feed. She could watch and help with the coordination. She wanted to be there physically though. It was more that she just didn't want to be separated from him. She was afraid of not being able to be there with him physically and not being able to help. She didn't count as a player, and she wasn't able to enter boss rooms, as a test on previous boss floors had revealed.

"Promise?"

"I promise."

The back and forth had already gone on for three minutes. Kirito knew Yui just didn't want her parent to go, didn't want her family to go and risk their lives. She had grown more attached, and the couple of floors they had cleared since meeting became reasoning for her to be upset. She understood that there was the chance they could die if they made unfortunate mistakes. Unlike monsters in the fields, they wouldn't spawn again. They were real. She had a feeling that she was more like her family than the monsters in the field or dungeons.

"Promise?"

Kirito sighed, hugged Yui and lifted her up. He pampered her as much as he could at think. He had been steeling himself and working his mind into the state he was going into his longest fight yet. It was already stressful, and everything was already planned, just needing to be confirmed with the rest of the raid team before going in and clearing it.

"I promise we'll clear the boss fight Yui. I spent so long getting ready for it, so we'll be fine. We've all worked very hard, and we'll come back home. We'll celebrate with your favourite foods, and party really late tonight. So please, be a good girl and cheer us on. You can help us now. We will be fine."

Yui rubbed her face in at the base of Kirito's neck and hugged as much of him as she could hold as tight as she could. Kirito sat her back down and knelt in front of her facing her while she rubbed tears from her eyes.

"Have some faith in us, Yui. We've come so far already, and we need to go the rest of the way through with this. Trust in us."

With a big sniffle, she nodded her head and summoned her viewing screen through a few motions with her hand. She had a very complex menu system which Kirito had helped her in understanding, but there were still things they were unsure of in function.

"Be careful sniffle mama."

With a head pat as a final temporary parting contact, Kirito stood up and ported to the camp outside of the boss room where the rest of the guild and raid group were waiting or still congregating. With so many people gathered, Kirito trembled a little in anxiety. He would need to get used to it quickly since they were all going to be working together to move on to further floors.

"Oh, you've made it Kirito. Is Yui-chan doing okay?"

Asuna's greeting snapped Kirito out of his anxiety fairly quickly. Being distracted was sometimes the easiest way out of anxiety.

"Yui is okay, she's just very worried about it being dangerous. She doesn't want any of us doing this fight."

Asuna grimaced a little. Part of her agreed with Yui, that it wasn't worth the risk and they could just stay where they were, but the bigger parts of her, and the logical side reminded her that the time within Aincrad was finite and they needed to be working on getting out.

"If you're watching, Yui-chan, we'll be fine! I'll protect Kirito, and he will protect me, and we're all protecting each other. We've been working on making sure everyone is ready for the last three days to make sure everyone knows all of the mechanics. We're fine! Respond in our guild chat if you understand."

It took about five seconds for a response to come, and Sachi had walked over to join Kirito and Asuna. She was nervous about being part of such a huge crowd. She also had anxiety.

"Thank you, Asuna-neesan. I understand."

Sachi twiddled her fingers to distract herself from the crowd, waiting for a point to join into the conversation.

"How are you doing Sachi?"

Kirito had noticed Sachi approaching and understood her anxiety because of the similarity it had between them. She brightened up considerably when she heard herself being talked to.

"Oh! I'm doing good Kirito, thank you. How is Yui-chan doing?"

Kirito continued giving the response for a bit, but before Leafa joined the rest of the guild, a merchant friend of theirs who they had first made the acquaintance on the first floor during the floor 1 fight joined in.

"Hey there girls, how are you doing? Just about ready to kick some floor boss rear?"

Agil was a tall man, who though had very different appearance to the rest of the group gathered, he fit in pretty well. Often, he would sell extra equipment the guild would craft they didn't sell when setting up a stall. Agil had set up a shop recently and being a mostly solo player, he worked with strong guilds once in a while for materials and equipment they would provide.

"Hi Agil-san. Yeah, we're pretty much ready, just waiting for everyone to finish gathering. How are you doing? Ready to off-tank for me?"

Kirito's response to him made the situation between them quite clear. Kirito didn't trust Heathcliff from the Knights of the Blood Oath anymore. He never really did, and he needed someone he could trust to be his off tank, not someone with an unreliable ego.

Agil smiled and rubbed the back of his head after awkwardly going to clap Kirito's shoulder. It was pretty obvious that he felt he needed to hold back from being too familiar. He was friends with the guild, but he understood the stance on no relationships, and he was working with girls much younger than him. He was one of the few people outside of the guild who knew about Kirito being male outside of the game. That made at least three people outside of the guild who knew about Kirito's secret. Argo, Agil, and Klein.

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Thank you for trusting in me and helping catch me up. I really do wish you would change the name of your guild though. Calling yourselves beta because three of the seven members were beta test players is okay, but drawing that kind of attention is kind of old news. Everyone knows you by now, so I think a name representing your personalities would be a really good change of pace."

Kirito stared at Agil, but then looked between the rest of the guild members and with some nodding in agreement, Kirito decided.

"After the boss, let's come up with ideas to change the name of the guild. Would you officially join our guild if we changed the name, Agil-san?"

Agil laughed heartily at the recruitment question.

"Again you're inviting me. I guess since we're going to be together for this fight, maybe I'll make my mind up after. Around an hour of bonding in battle is a good way to get my opinion on it solidified. I do still think though that it would be counterproductive to my business in here on some of my other clients supplying my shop."

"On the other hand to the counterproductive point, we would have access to your shop as a crafting location and could help you expand your shop's accessibility. Make it a crafting station for low level people to learn at, and we could supply lessons there using facilities we would provide to your shop. How does a massive upgrade like that sound? A lot more business than currently, and more wares to sell."

Kirito was brushing on the bit of business knowledge he had worked on building outside of game to offer strong reasoning to strike the deal. Certainly there were people who were going to Agil to sell their unwanted equipment and items to for other players to obtain who would stop providing him business if he partnered with a guild, and some people would stop associating with him just for becoming part of a guild. He was so attractive as a merchant because he was decently leveled, able to get some materials himself, and he was neutral in not belonging to a guild. But, a guild sponsored and supported merchant could be even more attractive, placing a trustworthy name onto a shop as a brand.

Agil gave Kirito a blank expression as Kirito solidified reason to him joining the guild. Agil had difficulty at times associating the personality of Kirito with the physical appearance he had. From average appearance, Kirito just looked like a beautiful teenage girl. Knowing that he was a boy, so well studied and collected enough to suddenly become a parent made it difficult to see him as a teenager. The maturity level was also above what Agil would consider teenage.

"We'll see, Kirito. Anyway, looks like we're just waiting on two more people to join their groups here. How are you feeling about leading this massive group?"

Kirito slumped his shoulders a little. He looked over the crowd and the anxiety returned a little. A deep breath and a sigh, he grounded himself.

"I'm going to feel very old by the time we get out of here if this keeps up..."

Agil shook his head and sighed. Everyone was worried about Kirito continuing to be the leader. He was leading out of need, not naturally. Naturally due to all of his effort put in, he had all the information everyone needed. It would be best if they had someone who understood the information equally as well and could take over the leadership role. Have someone that could work with Kirito to be the second half of the leadership role. As far as the rest of the guild, none were taking to the information as well as was needed to be that mouthpiece for him. Agil had noticed recently that Asuna was studying in Agil's shop so that she could fill that role, so he hoped that it would prove exactly what was needed.

"Let's get to it, the last two members of the raid group just got into their parties. Anyone feel like joining me to keep my mind a little at ease standing in front of so many people?"

Asuna stepped up in front of him immediately, no hesitation while Sinon and Leafa were blocked off. They balked at the sudden interruption by Asuna.

"I'll do what I can to support you, Kirito."

Kirito gave Asuna a smile and a nod before heading in front of the boss room door, the area was otherwise cleared since most people were afraid of being sucked into the room like a vacuum, just by being close to that open door.

"Hello everyone, thank you for joining us."

Kirito started off the introduction simply, and began confirming with party leaders that every member was totally informed on the mechanics. It took fifteen minutes to get all of the confirmations, and then without delay everyone headed in to the room. It was obvious that some people were still scared about entering the room. With everyone inside, Kirito started relaying where everyone's positions would be, and set up light markers on the floor that people could use to know where their positions to fall back to would be for dodging certain attacks. When finally all of the preparations were made, he signaled the charge.

Setting up enmity and everything as usual went easily, Agil and his large war ax contributed nicely to the damage, and time passed through the fight pretty fast. For the beginning of the fight, everyone was instructed to swap on and off so that they could last the entire hour with as much energy as possible. Everyone needed to have as much energy as possible for enrage. Dodging attacks went smoothly for quite a while. Everybody performed the mechanics like a well maintained machine. It could be described as a beautiful thing, the choreography of a well performed reaction to the mechanics. So many people moving in similar ways to avoid it, was satisfying to see.

The giant snake tails spewing poisons, the ram head needing to be stunned so it wouldn't make stalagmite rise from the ground, the lion head's heat generation needed to be countered. The chimera was an obviously magical beast in most games, and defying the lack of magic in Aincrad it had forms of magic which were somewhat natural. The ram head's abilities were totally a cheat though. If the ram head wasn't cut off or stunned when getting ready to summon the stalagmites around the room, that was what the markers placed around the room were for.

"Groups 8, 10 and 12, focus on the ram head! Let's try and bring it down as quick as possible so its mechanics don't cause us any trouble!"

Kirito's call out for the focus was received well, the three groups and their neighbors switching between each other in order to get rid of a source of worry for the whole group. In ten minutes of receiving that call out, the ram head was severed and a massive chunk of the boss's hit points dropped off. Battle cries resounded through the room as they saw how much of the hit points disappeared. If they kept up their pace, they would be done fighting soon.

Patience, timing. Those two words were very important for Kirito and his guild. As exciting as the ram head falling off was, the hit points dropping, it was in expectations. The lion head grew fierce, attacking with its heated bites and chomps at him, which he skillfully parried or countered, dealing immense damage to it. The chimera stacked bleeding damage on itself every time it attacked him. Kirito had to move precisely to make sure he didn't take unnecessary damage while parrying and countering. Asuna was quick to keep his health up with the potions.

Everyone picked up the pace a little, and as the chimera slowed down after a micro-enrage from the severing of the ram head, everyone backed off to recuperate energy for the enrage at the end of the fight. Kirito was steadily becoming exhausted, but thankfully Agil was supporting him very well as off tank. It gave Kirito enough chance to keep up his energy enough for the end enrage.

Finally after the snake tails were severed and the chimera was down to the last ten percent of its hit points, enrage had become obvious. It became faster with its movements. Agil was tanking it just before the enrage, so the first attack of enrage ripping out so quickly was nearly disastrous. Kirito had to sonic leap for the counter to save Agil and everyone in proxy from death.

From the sudden switch, Agil moved to the side and let Kirito main tank, dealing out immense damage in the parries and counters with every swift swipe of the chimera's front paws and rips with its furious maw.

"Everyone fall in and give it everything you have now!"

Kirito's yell made it through, and thankfully no mechanics other than it being far faster on the tank's end to deal with made it easy for everyone else to contribute to the damage. One final push over five minutes, and with everyone exhausted, the beast slumped to the ground in defeat. Seconds passed and as the victory tune played, the exhausted deep breaths of the one hundred people revealed that it was a hard won fight. Any longer than they took, and Kirito might have been burned to death from the heat the lion head was generating alone.

"Keep taking the heat resist Kirito, you look like you'll melt..."

Asuna's forcing the healing potions on him made the people who were about to get excited about the clear realize how close they were to dying. Him being laid out on his back, being force fed potions was a haunting scene for them. Kirito didn't resist either. Had he given his life to clear the fight? Many were worried it might be the case. After minutes of Asuna using potions and nudging him to make sure he was still alive and her efforts not in vain, his body not disappearing to the death animation, a horrible cough erupted from his mouth.

Asuna hugged him and patted his back. Kirito pulled himself together and realized he had worried everyone, and very likely scared Yui. Not one person in the raid group had left in worry about him.

"I thought we lost you...I thought..."

Asuna was crying and breathing heavily through sobs. It was clear she had heavy emotional investment into his well being. Even though the rest of the guild felt emotionally invested in him, it was clear she had developed an emotional dependence on his well being.

"I'm...okay. Thank you Asuna. Thank you."

After letting Asuna cry it out, they stood up and Kirito bowed to the whole group.

"Thank you, everyone. Thank you for being here, and fighting alongside us. Without you, we might not be able to move forward and get out of here. I genuinely and grateful to you from the bottom of my heart. Now, let's move on to the next floor and get some well earned rest!"

Kirito staggered and fell a bit, his energy still lacking. Asuna and Sinon supported him from either side. They were the first to head up the staircase which led to the next floor's first town. After activating the teleport plaza, they ported back home to their guild's cottage and laid Kirito down. He passed out again immediately as he was laid out on his bed. Yui was crying seeing him like that, hugging him while laying beside him.

"He's a hero pretty much every time, isn't he?"

The comment from Silica set the mood. Yui didn't participate in the conversation, but everyone else agreed about Kirito being like a hero whenever they're in trouble during boss fights. Agil had managed to follow them and he agreed with them that Kirito was definitely a hero. They hoped that he wouldn't sustain lasting damage from that fight. The heat damage over time was a lasting effect. I should wear off eventually, but it didn't seem to be getting much better due to the exhaustion.

"Let's...make something cold for dinner, for his sake. It should help him fight the heat and exhaustion debuffs."

Sachi, Sinon and Leafa stepped up to Asuna and nodded their heads.

"What's our menu ingredients for your idea, Asuna?"

Asuna gave it a little thought, and remembered that Kirito had promised to make Yui her favourite meals. She would make Yui's favourites for everyone, and Kirito especially some of the cold meal. For Kirito, his meal would be a cold salad with dessert being a pudding. Asuna relayed the ingredients for the main meal, and searched her inventory for the ingredients to what she would make Kirito. She kept the meal for Kirito a secret since she wanted to surprise everyone, and set up everyone on their chores for getting dinner ready. Agil was joining for dinner as well since he had been invited to join their guild and had made up his mind – just waiting for Kirito to get up to relay his decision.

As dinner preparations were just about finished, a tired looking Kirito entered the busy kitchen holding Yui on his shoulders. Sweat was all over his face and the bags under his eyes were terrifying, but he pushed passed his issues.

"Thank you for helping with dinner tonight, and thank you for supporting me so well in our battle today. I really couldn't have done anything without you. What's for dinner?"

Sachi picked up a plate holding Yui's favourites and Yui's expression lit up.

"Asuna is still working on something, but the main dinner you promised Yui-chan is ready for everyone. Oh! Agil is waiting in the lounge. You should talk with him if you're feeling better, Kirito."

Kirito shook his head and chuckled lightly.

"Thank you, but my chat with him can wait until I've got a little more energy."

He sat down as gently as his exhaustion would allow, and placed his head on the counter.

"Ahhhh the counter feels nice and cold. Let me just sit like this a while..."

Kirito's bliss at the cold feeling of the counter made everyone feel a little better. Asuna seemed to be wrapping up making his dessert at that moment, so she placed his salad by his head which made him perk up. Lifting his head off of the counter to see the beautifully made salad, tears formed at the edges of his eyes. Kirito looked to Asuna and she nodded her head, as if words weren't needed between them. Kirito reached to the salad bowl, his fork summoning from his inventory automatically, and putting the forkful of salad in his mouth, he squirmed a little in delight.

"So delicious~ and it's nice and cold too. Just what I needed. Thank you, Asuna."

Asuna blushed a little and nodded again before turning to finish making his dessert while he ate the salad. Leafa and Sinon stared at him as if it was a rare thing to see him happy when he was eating. He stopped about half way through the bowl and hurriedly apologized.

"Sorry. I forgot that we always eat dinner together. I'll finish the rest when we're all ready to eat."

Everyone including Yui laughed lightly. Kirito only grew more red from the embarrassment. He glanced at his status, and it still showed he was suffering burn and exhaustion debuffs. They were really wearing on him, but they were thankfully reducing in strength as time passed.

"And now the last thing is ready. Let's go eat, everyone."

Asuna announcing that she finished making the last part of dinner she was making got Kirito to stand up and everyone else carry the dinner plates out to the lounge, placing the dinner plates on the main table in the lounge. Everyone sitting around the lounge table with the addition of Agil made it feel somewhat like a full family.

"Thank you very much for the meal."

Agil opened up for eating with that comment and everyone dug in. Agil still wasn't used to regular meals to the level the guild prepared, so he expressed his satisfaction quite boisterously.

"We could make a lot of money just off of this food! This is amazing!"

He quieted down pretty quick when he realized everyone else was quietly enjoying their food. He nodded his head in satisfaction. Thinking about it as he took in the events of the day since following their teleport back home, he realized that he really fit in well with them. And they had a lot they could offer as far as his shop was considered. There truly was no downside to working with them, he realized. Sure there would be some who wouldn't be satisfied for selfish reasons, but he wouldn't need to change his shop very much. Just add what they offered to add as services of his shop.

After finishing eating dinner, Asuna brought out everyone's desserts and set them out in front of them, leaving Kirito's for last. When she placed the cold pudding in front of him, everyone stared between the dish and Asuna.

"Favoritism."

That word echoed through the room as everyone but Yui, Asuna and Kirito said it. Asuna blushed deep red and left the dish in front of Kirito. He waited until everyone else started eating their desserts before eating his. Asuna watched him closely, interested in seeing his reaction to it.

"Delicious!"

The exclamation from Kirito wasn't loud, but it wasn't exactly quiet either. Everyone was waiting for the reaction. After that, finishing dessert was uneventful, and everyone sat in silence, enjoying the lingering taste of dessert in their minds and mouths. Kirito faced Agil, and Agil returned the gaze.

"So, I've made up my mind. I'll join the guild. With so many perks and so few detriments, it would be dumb to keep turning you down after today."

Kirito smiled.

"Then welcome to the guild! I would like to come up with our guild's new name together, but I have thought up a few suggestions. My first suggestion is Aincradians. That's going off of how much we have come to live here. My second suggestion is Alternate Feelings. That suggestion is based on how much we have grown and developed alternate feelings to how we were before entering this game. My third suggestion is Progression. That one because we have pretty much led the charge through Aincrad. With that, what does everyone think? Any suggestions?"

Following Kirito saying the suggestions of names for the guild's name change, everyone's expressions told the story of their thoughts regarding which one they preferred most. Alternate Feelings was the one which resounded with them most.

"Very nice suggestions Kirito. I have another option I would like to contribute. This suggestion is based off of the cafe I ran outside. Dicey Cafe. I suggest this as the name for the guild, but Dicey would also work so my shop wouldn't be called Dicey Cafe's Dicey Cafe. Just a suggestion, since I'm sure you would be wanting to renovate my shop with it becoming part of the guild too."

Kirito nodded with a smile. He liked the idea of blending Agil's shop name into the guild.

"Any more suggestions? If not, we'll vote on the names suggested for the guild."

No more suggestions were brought up. In the end, Alternate Feelings was chosen as their new guild name. Short form name for being referenced was Alt. Finally, they had shed the uncomfortable guild name of Beta.