~ Act 2 ~

Tsuki-chan (Lisanla) | Kirito's POV

The next day, I went to Agil's Shop to trade away my items. I had Orc Tail, Plant Root, Venom Admiral (Two-handed axe), and many more. Well, the axe is just a gift to Agil.

"I'm here to trade away items," I said as I selected the items to trade away.

"Lisanla came by this morning to look for you," Agil said.

"She did?" I asked. "Did she explain why?"

"She's preparing to explore the Hollow Area," Agil said.

"Do you know where she is now?" I asked.

Agil shook his head. "Kirito-kun, why had you not taken her there yet? You took the others to the Hollow Area but not Lisanla?"

I blinked my eyes. He was right. I never did take Tsuki-chan there. "I will now, if I can find her…"

I found Tsuki-chan at the teleport gate. "Kirito-kun!" she had called out.

I said firmly, "Tsuki-chan, please if you may, for I will take you, explain why you want to go."

Then she replied with a smile on her face, "I will remind you: have you forgotten of who I am to be in a MMO?"

I hesitated, having no response to say.

Tsuki-chan frowned. "I'm an adventurer. You forgot my liking for adventure?"

I sighed. "I just…"

"Ugh, Kirito-kun…" Tsuki-chan said in disappointment.

I sighed again in disappointment. "I said something wrong, didn't I?"

Tsuki-chan smirked as she said, "Ah, so that's why your girls yell at you…"

I blushed at that response. "Knock it off!"

"I'm kidding. Jōdan, jōdan..." she said, smiling. Then that smile disappeared. "Err… was I being a bitch, then?"

I stammered, "W-well… u-um…"

Tsuki-chan raised an eyebrow. "Whatever."

I let out a sigh of relief. I didn't want to say something wrong again…

"There is someone I want you to meet at the Hollow Area," I said, trying to change the subject.

Tsuki-chan grabbed my hand. "What is he… or she? Oh, whatever! I just can't wait to teleport to the Hollow Area! I want to embark on a journey! I want to start many journeys before we clear all the floors in SAO."

I chuckled. "If we clear SAO, we can play another VRMMO. I promise you we will have many adventures."

I never saw Tsuki-chan this happy before. She hugged my arm… Wait a second…

My body shook. I was blushing. "Tsu… Tsuki… chan…!"

Tsuki-chan giggled. "You are so cute when you're nervous," she stated.

I hesitated. She sure was happy…

"I'm… nervous, to you?"

"You were when I hugged your arm, Kirito-kun."

I looked down without amusement. "Right…"

"Less talking and more exploring the Hollow Area…?" Tsuki-chan suggested, smiling.

"Yes," I agreed, "if it makes you cheerful."

"Does it make you happy?" she asked.

I blinked my eyes. "Of course it does."

Tsuki-chan smiled. She grabbed the axe I gave her and she playfully rubbed the wedge of the axe. "Wald Champion…" she said, calling out the name of the axe. "Take me to the best places full of treasure, Kirito-kun."

Philia | Tsubaki's POV

Kirito-kun and I teleported to the Hollow Area. We were at the Console Room, according to Kirito-kun. "We can teleport to land from this console," said he.

I saw a girl who was in front of the console, and she looked at me.

"Oh, this is Philia," Kirito said. "Philia, this is Lisanla. I call her by Tsuki-chan."

I shook my head. "Just call me Lisanla. Kirito-kun gave me the nickname 'Tsuki-chan'."

"Oooh…" Philia said in amazement, looking at the axe I carried. I tilted my head in confusion.

"Uh… Philia-chan?" Kirito said.

"I've never seen," Philia said, "a female axe-wielder before."

I blushed. It was true that no female had dared to wield an axe. I realized it when I used to wield a spear. I liked the axe better than the spear.

Kirito-kun nodded. "Yeah... I hardly see any female axe-wielders myself."

I cleared my throat and bumped my elbow against Kirito-kun's arm. "Stop flirting."

Kirito-kun stammered nervously, "I… I'm not flirting!"

Philia-chan giggled as she smiled. "Lisanla-chan is a cutie."

I smirked as I teasingly asked, "Does Kirito-kun say wrong things to you?"

All eyes were on me. Philia had a surprised look. "Eh?" she asked.

Kirito-kun's body trembled. "Tsu-Tsuki-chan…!"

I shook my head. "Well, I hope you never yelled at him. His girls yell at him for being… well, would his stupidity be correct?"

Kirito-kun looked down. "Tsuki-chan…"

Philia-chan hesitated. Then she spoke, "Stupidity…?"

"And he can be a flirt," I teased.

"Knock it off, Tsuki-chan!" Kirito-kun demanded nervously.

"Eh? Knock it off?" I spoke. "Too hard being popular with your ladies?"

Kirito-kun looked down with embarrassment. "Thanks for putting it that way…" he said sarcastically.

I giggled as I looked at Philia-chan. "It is fun messing with him."

"I can see that," Philia said with a smile. "So, what brings you here?"

"We're…" I began. Then I looked at Kirito-kun. He nodded, then I looked back at Philia-chan. "We're on a, as we like to call it, treasure hunt."