So I had a change in plans. I had things set out for waiting the week and everything. But writing this chapter… that has changed. I hope for the better. :D

Also, I hope this chapter makes up for how I've been doing recently. Sorry for all the recent disappointments.

Cosmos- I understand how long you all have been waiting. I know I'm at fault and should be cranking these out faster. I just can't sometimes. I hope this chapter makes up for the last one. I'm glad you're supportive of me and I will continue to do my best in my works.

Through the last two days, my finger had been itching to hit send on the message sitting in my draft box, being stuck there after staring at it too long. I should leave him alone. He's probably fighting and I can't distract him. If I were to do that… The evil and much too cheery, 'Hey Kirito-kun!' constantly staring me in the face.

So, instead, I took out my frustration on the lava golem in front of me, currently working on a far off dungeon on floor 49. It was a volcano based one, strikingly different than the rest of the cheery and more average floor. I glanced around at the streams of lava that dripped down the walls as I pulled my dagger out of the dissipating rock creature. I have never missed Floria so much… Though dangerous, my current level was the same as the floor, my power leveling decreasing rapidly as my strength reached the level of the current top floor, we continued to work together and be safe. It's true parties fight on floors 10 levels below their own, but staying with that mindset will never allow me to catch up to Kirito.

I wiped sweat off my brow with my sleeve, almost wishing I had taken a hit to my HP in that last fight. I never noticed the nice cooling sensation from Pina's healing before. I glanced up at my partner currently preparing to land on my head, ready for the next fight. He's been looking brighter than usual too, like glowing. I wonder…

My thoughts were cut off by a rough fist to the shoulder. "Alright! Great job guys."

I forced out a smile and a small, "…hai!" in return for his enthusiasm.

As we continued through the dungeon, the same boy, slightly overweight with the bowl cropped hair, kept by my side. He continued to talk as we went, but my mind was in other places, specifically, who was in the dungeon on the top floor. I was grateful for being in a dungeon, however, as I couldn't send out the message, Even if I wanted to.

Hearing my name, I turned towards him and looked up, "Eh?" Did I miss something? Gah, I shouldn't be so rude. These players are accompanying me on a much more dangerous floor.

"I was asking: where did you get all that new armor anyway? I specifically remember what you used to wear, and this seems all new and stronger." He eyed me with narrower slits than normal, though there was pride in his voice as he spoke of his knowledge. This guy has always… made me uncomfortable. I shied away from using the word 'creeped,' because of what they were doing for me, but it was in honest how I felt.

"Oh, um. I," Lie or truth? lie or truth? "They were a gift, kind of." I giggled lightly to make light of it.

His eyebrow rose lightly. "Really?" He let out one simple word, but it put me on edge nonetheless.

"Uh, well." How can I make it sound like less than what it was…Sorry Kirito. "They were scraps from a higher leveled player who couldn't use them. That's all." I smiled widely at him, even if it was for being proud of how I put it.

His lips perked up lightly and turned forward. "Well that was very nice of them. I thought someone had taken you from me." …Did he just- "This armor is more to my taste too. I didn't know you had a blue pair." His grin widened as his eye peeked from the corner at me.

Blue… I looked at my red armor and black skirt confused. Then, instinctually, my head turned towards the bra strap hanging over my revealed shoulders, noticing the sky blue one I decided to change into today. Immediately I stopped walking and did a full body shudder. Kirito saw me almost completely naked just days ago but this… this nauseated me far more. I couldn't help but let out a whispered, "Kimoi…" before continuing. Call him a creep! Call him a fat geek! DO IT! No! Be nice you. Instead of being outright mean, I instead constructed a mental list of future plans.

To do list:

1- Find a new group or go solo

2- Figure out the safest floor for soloing, just in case.

3- Get new armor.

4- Scold idiot-kun for getting me armor that didn't cover my shoulders.

Continuing through the dungeon, we eventually cleared the entire area without any hiccups. By the time we returned outside though, the sun was already setting and we decided it was time for us to call it a day; Well, time for normal people to call it a day. I mused, laughing lightly knowing how He was probably continuing to fight. To finish off the day, we had teleported back to floor 35 and went to grab some dinner together. While much more relaxed than before, I couldn't get the nagging feeling out of my head, pestering me to finally send out that message. What a pain…

Raising our glasses with a resounding "Kanpai!" for a hard day's work, we got into talking about floors and the fighting today.

"Silica-chan. When did you get so strong? I don't remember you doing this much damage in fights before. You haven't been secretly leveling without us have you?" Our party leader, a tall sword and shield user, smiled jokingly as he said this. I couldn't do anything but laugh weakly in response, the bashfulness doing nothing to hide the fact that he was right. "Wait really!?"

"Ehehe. Well, I just wanted to get closer to…the front lines. That's all." They nodded in approval and satisfaction. "Maybe one day we could join them and clear the game!" I proclaimed happily. My party though… There it is… I frowned inwardly, noticing the slight curve of their lips, each more obvious than the last. They're humoring. They think I'm a fool who's chasing dreams. They don't have any faith in me at all…

Now completely sour for the evening, I held back in the conversation, glad to be on the end of the table so as to hide from the spotlight. They continued to talk as I tuned them out and fiddled with both my food and my menu.

[SEND] [DELETE] [SAVE] Staring me in the face as the lingering message remained untouched. Glancing to my right where my party was, I reached out a finger and clicked. I held my breath briefly as I realized what my impatience had just done. Turning back to the window scared, I was met with a solidifying [MESSAGE SENT] in my face. And to think I clicked randomly and left it to chance…

"Friend of yours?" I felt a breath brush my ear in the most unsettling way. This guy…

Unwilling to be rude, I responded with a familiar hand behind my head and laugh. "Ah, yea. Just, someone. I thought you were eating." I stole a glance towards his empty seat. "I didn't know you were behind me."

"Just a trip to the bathroom," he chuckled, enjoying what seemed to be his personal joke on top of his words. Satisfied with his fake answer, he walked back to his seat with a grin, ignoring the fact that I still wanted to know why he was standing directly behind me and looking over my shoulder. I shuddered again.

Excusing myself with the claim of being tired, I left the restaurant and headed towards my still currently free inn. A nice soak after a day of fighting… The idea of a cold bath after hours of fighting in a resounding heat tickled my thoughts, but in the end I decided it was only good in theory. "Besides, I only need you to cool off, right Pina?"

"Kyuu!" He replied with fervor.

"Sometimes I wonder if you really do know how I feel. Hehe." I hugged him and patted his head as we walked.

"But I do understand Silica-chan." A deep voice caught me off guard.

"Please tell me that was you. Pina…?" I whispered, having stopped walking. His tiny face turned up to me in confusion. Of course not…

Reluctantly, I turned to face the voice behind me. Little to my surprise, it was the same guy from the party. Can't I just be left alone? "Hey!" I replied cheerily anyway, probably much too giddily for my own good. "I didn't know you were staying here as well," I offered, pointing to the building we had just reached.

"I didn't know either." He smiled. That smile… I instinctively clutched Pina closer.

"…So… What's up?" I was waiting for him to join me in walking, being more comfortable in a more public place. I never realized how deserted the streets got late at night. My HUD blinked a late [11:43 PM].

"I just had a question before we went to bed." My face stayed rigidly smiling. Why did saying it like that put me on edge? And what's with this aura of lechery? "Silica-chan!" he started strong, only bothering me more. "I'm your biggest fan and" Oh no… "I'm glad to see you return to the party." Oh…crap. "I knew that you wouldn't be away from me for too long." Oh God… "So I was wondering if you'd want to share storages together?"

Please… let him not be… "Like the party storage, right?" I giggled nervously and feigned innocence.

Laughing like he was dealing with a clueless child, he shook his head. "No no no." Then, looking me straight in the eyes, when did he get so close? He continued. "Like marriage."

*Gulp*

Backing away holding a hand up, the other still cradling my friend, I attempted to politely let him down. "Ah, no. I'm sorry. I'm just too young. I can't do things like that. It's too personal and I don't know you enough for that."

"Then let me stay with you tonight! I'll teach you everything about me!" He interrupted with eerie vigor. I couldn't help but cringe at the idea of being alone in a room with him, let alone what he was implying…

"No no. I'm sorry. I can't. Plus I have another…" I cut my words off, leaving my mouth open accidentally, knowing I had said too much.

His eyes both narrowed and an eyebrow rose at the same time. I didn't even know that was possible. "You have another… what? Another suitor?" Oh my God! Why would he say it like that? Now I was starting to get a bit riled up. Kirito-kun's not a suitor! He's a…What is he exactly…?

"It's not like that I just…" I couldn't finish.

"Has someone taken my Silica-chan away from me!?" Your…Silica? I was getting a bit pushed for my calm demeanor. But if I snapped now, then people would think of me differently. They definitely wouldn't want to be in my party. They won't-

'They will hate you too.' A deep and familiar voice rang in my memory.

!

"I'm… sorry. I have to go." I stuttered as I ran off.

That was a longer than normal chapter… Well then… I hope it helped make up for the crap I've been putting you all through.