Episode Three: The Red-Nosed Reindeer

4/8/2023 - Floor 11

"Here's to us, the Moonlit Black Cats! Cheers everyone!" Five silver goblets clinked together, an echo of 'cheers' following along. I sat at the head of the table, watching the guild members celebrate.

The kid with dirty blond hair and a beanie held his cup out, pointing it to me. "I've got another! Here's to the guy that saved our lives. To Kirito!"

""To Kirito!""

Slowly raising my own cup, I awkwardly smiled. "Uh, yeah. Cheers."

A chorus of thanks left the group, leaving me a little stunned. I waved them away, trying to play the humble character.

This is a bit much…

While I didn't react as badly as the last couple jumps, the change in atmosphere was drastic. The tavern was semi full, hosting several other players in varying group sizes.

How many months were between episode two and three?

Sachi clasped her hands together, glancing off to the side as she recalled a painful memory. "I can't tell you how scared I was… It made me so happy when you came to save us!"

Gently patting her shoulder, the guild leader, Keita, stepped up and brought his voice to a whisper. "Uh- Kirito, sir. I hope I'm not out of line asking this, but I was wondering what level you are?"

Raising a brow, I shrugged. "It's no big deal. I'm…" I double checked the top of my vision, having no idea what my current level was.

"Level 40."

Keita let out a quiet gasp, eyes widening. "Level 40?! And as a solo player? You've gotta be one of the best players in the game!" He at least had the sense to keep his voice low, not even letting his fellow guildmates hear him.

"I wouldn't say 'the best'..." Sighing, I looked at nowhere in particular, avoiding his awestruck expression.

Keita laughed, setting his drink aside. "Well, if you say so. Although… I was wondering if you had the time to help us out. Not like, join our guild or anything. You're way too good for us. But as help from a skilled player. We really need it if we want to advance as a guild."

Huh. That's definitely a different response from the anime.

"Well…" I hesitated, knowing it was Kirito's fault for this guild being wiped out. Specifically, because he was at such a higher level.

"Just, give it some thought, no pressure!" Backpedaling, Keita motioned towards the brunet swordsman with the purple tunic. "Our mace wielder, Tetsuo, is the only one we can put out front right now."

Taking a step back, Keita placed a hand on Sachi's head. She let out a cute 'huu' noise, completely ignoring the contact. "Then we've got Sachi. I'm thinking of switching her to sword and shield to bolster our front lines. But she says she's not sure if she can handle it."

While I understood what he had in mind, I was still worried that if I joined their group, Kirito…

Should I give the Kirito between jumps a name? It's kind of weird referring to him as 'other me' and stuff.

He is sort of like an auto pilot mode. Hm. Auto!Kirito. That doesn't sound too bad.

If I joined the group, auto!Kirito may end up getting them killed by trying to follow the plot. Seeing as I was here in the tavern with the Moonlit Black Cats, he was definitely acting the same as Kirito from the show.

But then again, if I didn't join them, auto!Kirito might end up course correcting when I don't have any input.

While I was thinking, Sachi confronted Keita about the situation, stating that she was hardly useless. It was only a matter of being overwhelmed in the front. The blond haired boy humorously commented that if it was overwhelming, she'd only need to hide behind her shield.

The guilds' laughter broke me from my thoughts. Glancing at Keita, he misunderstood my look. "We're always joking like this. See, we all go to the same high school and are members of the computer club. But regardless, we'd really appreciate your help and welcome you with open arms."

Each of the guild members nodded in agreement, smiling along.

I had already made up my mind, so I didn't bother keeping them in suspension. "Okay. I can help out. Just a bit, alright?"

Elation filled the guild member's faces and they quickly crowded around me.

X X X

5/9/2023 - Floor 20

Sachi held up her wooden shield, tanking the blows of the killer mantis. On her left, Sasamaru poked the monster from a distance, whittling its health with his spear. I stood back, watching from a small distance. Cupping my hands around my mouth, I spoke loudly.

"Like we practiced, Sachi! Parry the mantis and switch with Tetsuo!"

Without looking back, Sachi nodded, waiting for the right moment. When the killer mantis swung down, the girl thrust her shield upward. "Switch!"

While the mantis was staggered, Tetsuo unleashed a sword skill, bashing the mantis' head with his heavy mace.

Its health dropped to zero, dying with a burst of polygons. A white screen appeared before every player but myself, displaying experience and col gained.

"Good work everyone!" Giving a clap, I joined the group, thankful I didn't have to step in.

X X X

"The assault team made it to floor 28! That's amazing!" Keita held the Weekly Argo in hand, reading through the top article on the page.

Keita and I were sitting on some elevated grass in a safe zone. Or at least, as safe as areas outside cities could be. Monsters didn't spawn in this particular plains area, making it the perfect picnic spot.

So, they're at floor twenty eight already. Seems like it was only an hour ago that SAO started.

Keeping my sardonic thoughts to myself, I hummed along to Keita's announcement. There was a moment of quiet, as Keita continued reading the newspaper.

I laid back, staring at the false sky created by the next floor. It was a clear blue, but had an odd stone texture that was barely visible. Of course, at the horizon, there was the 'real' sky.

Closing my eyes, I relaxed for what felt like the first time in days. In reality, only about an hour passed since I appeared in this world. An hour that was somehow spread across months.

"Hey, Kirito. With the strength that you have, do you ever fight on the front lines with the assault teams?" Glancing at Keita, I saw that he was laying down as well, absently staring at the newspaper.

My lips twitched as I registered the question. "On occasion."

It felt like a blatant lie, and it was. Not even five minutes had passed since I helped beat Illfang and only Illfang.

It was fresh in my mind. The exertion, stress, worrying about those around you. Illfang's roar was terrifying. Diavel, bursting into pieces before my eyes. He died, just like that.

"Please be honest, what's the difference between those front line guilds and our own. What lets them do what they do?" Keita's face was scrunched up with frustration.

Taking a breath, I allowed myself a second to gather my thoughts.

"I guess you could say it's a drive. A strength of heart that pushes them to risk their lives and test their limits." Asuna's face appeared in the forefront of my mind. Her wavy chestnut hair flowing with the thrust of her rapier. "But despite all that, at the end of the day, they're still human."

"Do you have that willpower, Kirito?"

"I… I'm not sure."

I closed my eyes, trying not to think about it. Kirito or not. Plot armor or not. Risking my life was such a foreign concept. I understood it intellectually, but to actually commit to it?

To lay down your life for your friends. I wanted to be that kind of person. But if I got that opportunity…

Could I be that person?

X X X

Keita stood at the front of the bedroom. The rest of us sat on the two beds. Sachi and Tetsuo on his right, Ducker, Sasamaru, and myself to his left.

The dim light from the triangular shaped lamp dimly lit the room, windows almost pitch black.

Taking a breath, the guild leader spoke. "I have an announcement to make. After our latest hunt in the field, we've got 200,000 cor!"

"Woah…" Sachi stared in wonder, trying her best to imagine that amount of money.

"Getting our own house. It's really within our reach, huh." Tetsuo grinned to himself.

Sasamaru raised his hand. I looked over at him, as he was sitting to my left. "You know what, we should get Sachi some new equipment!"

There was a hint of approval in Keita's eyes as he turned his attention to Sachi. "You've really worked hard this past month. I think we should do it."

A worried look appeared on Sachi's face as she shrunk under the attention. She wordlessly glanced at me, ocean blue eyes speaking louder than words.

"They're right. This is a real next step, and you earned it." I gave the girl a comforting smile.

The girl's lips quirked up a fraction. Squeezing her eyes shut, she stayed silent for a second before opening them. Resolution replaced anxiety as she faced Keita. "Okay. Let's do it."

"That's the spirit!" Keita cheered, giving Sachi a reassuring thumbs up. "I knew you could do it. Switching jobs, that is."

The guild chuckled at Keita's awkward phrasing, Ducker reacting especially loud.

Keita's ears turned red as he waved his hands in front of him. "Guys, cut it out! It wasn't that bad, was it?"

That got a small laugh out of me. I leaned back, enjoying the joyous atmosphere.

X X X

Almost a week had passed since we decided to upgrade Sachi's gear, firmly cementing her as a front line fighter. It was dark outside and I left my room to do some late night grinding. With how much I was helping the Moonlit Black Cats, I had to make up for lost time.

5/16/2023 - Floor 28

I stood at the top of a hill, watching as Klein and several of his guildmates easily dealt with a blood wolf leader, taking turns hitting the enemy.

I forgot Klein shows up this early in the episode. Man, it's been… not that long since I last saw him. But it still feels like forever ago.

A bittersweet smile makes its way onto my face as I watch the guild leader commit to the final blow, killing the mini boss. It bursts into greenish blue particles, faintly illuminating the plains.

After taking a breather, Klein glances up, quickly catching sight of me. His eyes light up as he starts to jog over. "What's up Kirito!" He looks behind him, informing his guildmates to finish up the remaining mobs.

"Man, it's been a while since I last saw you. What, you doing some late night leveling or something?" Klein pauses, his eyes darting to an icon just above my health bar. "Woah, don't tell me. You actually joined a guild?"

"You could say that." Nodding my head, I watched as the last few mobs were taken out. "I'm helping out a smaller guild. I think they have what it takes to really move up in SAO."

The red swordsman blinked in surprise, bringing up a finger to point at me. "You- you've actually taken a small guild under your wing? I know that I of all people shouldn't be surprised, but still…"

I let out a tired sigh, wondering what kind of interactions Kirito had with Klein during the skips. "I guess you could say-"

X X X

The brilliant white glow of the teleportation enveloped me. Ethereal humming present through the short animation.

"Ack!" I slipped forward, caught off guard by the sudden skip. "Really, mid sentence!"

Running my hand down my face, I let out a groan of frustration. Damn it. Who knows what auto!Kirito said after that. And here I thought I'd actually get to chat with Klein.

Mumbling under my breath, I trudged forward aimlessly, unaware of what auto!Kirito was doing before this.

The tapping of light footsteps echoed from my right. Looking over, I saw Sachi walking forward wearing a look of recognition. "Kirito?"

"Oh, hey Sachi." Furrowing my brows, I thought back to the anime. I was fairly sure Kirito and Sachi never ran into each other like this. "What're you doing out this late?"

"I…" Sachi trailed off, avoiding eye contact. "I want to talk."

X X X

We sat beside the aqueduct in silence. It was almost calming, with the light blue water trickling softly.

Sachi kept her knees close to her chest, hair casting a shadow over her eyes. She took a few calming breaths before speaking up.

"Kirito, how do you do it? How are you able to be so strong?" Her soft voice carried with remarkable clarity. "Every second, I can feel it. I can feel SAO bearing down on me."

Her head shoots up, her face twisted in agony. Tears linger in the corners of her eyes, but don't fall. "You're so strong, so amazing. I want to be like you so badly. I want to face my fears! I want to run away!"

"What am I supposed to do…?" She buries her head in her knees, failing to hold back a sniffle.

I held my breath as I watched the girl break down in front of me. She confided in me. Looked up to me. I stared at the sky, hiding the horror that I felt.

With a shuddered sigh, I steeled my nerves and sat beside Sachi. Placing a hand on her back, I slowly rubbed circles. Her sniffling got louder.

When she finally calmed down, I lowered my hand. "Sachi… how honest do you want me to be?"

She slowly wiped away the tears, looking at me from the corner of her eyes. Her mouth opened, a word forming on her lips. But she stopped herself.

Gripping her knees, she forced out the words she didn't want to say. "...honest. Completely honest."

I hesitated, knowing that there was a limit to what I could say. Not a physical one, but a self imposed one. To even begin to explain the full extent of my situation would only lead to madness.

But since Sachi asked, I couldn't lie. Breaking her perception of Kirito was one thing, but deceiving her with fanciful words seemed… awful.

"I don't, Sachi. I've been coasting along like a robot, going through the motions like a dead end 9 to 5 employee. There's no strength, conviction. None of that. The time I've spent in SAO has been a blink in the eye for me. I still have a hard time even believing I'm really here."

Slumping back, I rested my head against the gray brick wall. I shut my eyes, not wanting to see the girl's broken, disappointed gaze.

I shouldn't have said that. I really shouldn't have said that.

"You're not a robot!" Sachi suddenly grabbed me by the shoulders before letting out a yelp, immediately letting go.

My mouth hung open as I failed to comprehend precisely what happened. The young swordswoman held her hands together in embarrassment. But contrary to that embarrassment, she looked me in the eyes. There was a resolute confidence that wasn't there a moment ago.

Her eyes were still red and puffy, distracting from the moment, but she held firm regardless. "I- I really can't say I understand what you're dealing with, but we owe you so much. I o-owe you."

"I mean… I'm happy to help." Uncertainty took hold of me as I watched Sachi rapidly gain confidence from seemingly nowhere.

The blue haired girl took a deep breath. "There are moments where you shine brightly, regardless of how hopeless it all seems. Even right now, I can see it. So please, don't forget how amazing you are."

My muscles went stiff. Silently gulping, I tried to ignore the drums beating in my ears.

Does… did she notice?

I turned, desperately searching for an answer. But the words wouldn't leave my lips. The possibility of sharing my burden. But at the same time, this was Sachi. She dies several months from now. Gone like the wind due to Kirito's actions.

"Do… do you-"

X X X

I sat on my bed, equipping my gear for the night. The room itself was fairly cozy for what it cost. Especially since it had two beds, but I had it all to myself.

Why?

The despondent thought floated around my head. Like a grain of sand in the vast empty ocean. It swayed to and fro, aimlessly and without direction.

Why me?

More than anything, I wanted to vent my frustrations. Maybe punch a wall, or bite my tongue. But it would've been pointless. Pain literally couldn't distract me from the reality of the situation.

There was a knock at the door.

"Uh- come in!"

The door opened slowly, revealing Sachi, holding a large blanket in her arms. She smiled lightly, holding the fabric tighter. "I thought you'd… I wanted some company."

Preparing myself, I tried to speak to her again-

X X X

It was quiet. The room was dark, only illuminated by the faint silver glow of the moon. In my opinion, the room really needed curtains, as I preferred to sleep in pitch black.

A mumbled sigh left my lips as I curled up in the bed. A quick peek over my shoulder revealed the young swordswoman in the other bed. She was already fast asleep.

Closing my eyes, I did my best to shut out the noise.

And for the first time, I slept.

X X X

6/12/2023 - Floor 11

"Okay, I'm heading out." Keita gave a short wave, turning away. "Teleport: Town of Beginnings!"

The circular flash of light covered Keita, glowing brighter and brighter before suddenly vanishing. The five of us were left to our own devices in the middle of the town square.

"Can you believe it? I never thought buying a house would be so exciting." Sasamaru commented, his arms crossed.

Ducker lightly punched his shoulder, a mirthful smile on his face. "Dude, you sound like an old man."

That got a chorus of laughter from the rest of the guild, Sasamaru joining in.

Stepping in front of the group, Tetsuo put his hands on his hips. "Hey, while Keita's away, why don't we go out and get some extra cash?"

"Oh!" Sachi clapped her hands together. "Then we could get furniture!"

Ducker put on a cocky smirk, glancing more at me than the rest of the guild. "Come on, let's go to a dungeon on a higher floor!"

Each of the guild members then turned to me, seeking my guidance as the most experienced player. In my peripheral vision, I could see a hint of recognition in Sachi's gaze.

"We should play it safe. It's not like we need a bunch of cash." I offered, ready to put my foot down if necessary.

"Hey," Ducker threw his arm over my shoulder, mustard yellow coat fluttering with the action. "With our levels and your guidance, we have nothing to fear. The world's your oyster, or however the saying goes."

"Yea, Kirito. We owe it to you for how far we've gotten. Together, we're definitely beating this game." Sasamaru agreed, miming the thrust of a spear.

A sense of urgency hit me like a brick. If I didn't say anything right now to convince them, auto!Kirito would surely bend like a wet rag.

But a lifeline came from a place least expected.

"I think Kirito's right." Sachi interjected, fiddling with her white gloves. "We should take it easy and enjoy the moment. We can save the adventure for when Keita's back."

As every head turned to her, Sachi nearly buckled under the attention, shoulders hunching.

Ducker's eyes darted between Sachi and myself, an understanding flashing over his countenance. "I see… I think that's a great idea! We can definitely do some easy field quests."

Sasamaru and Tetsuo let out a confused hum, suddenly finding a three on two situation.

"Well, if you say so." Sasamaru reluctantly agreed, adjusting his blue cap.

Tetsuo nodded as well. "I'm game."

Huh. That wasn't too bad.

X X X

I found myself sitting on a familiar hill, grassy plains extending ahead of me. All the way until the horizon. Or at least, to whatever you could equate to a horizon in Aincrad.

"It's back."

Flinching, I jerked my head in the direction of the voice. Sitting next to me was Sachi, sword and shield hanging off her back. She wore a silly little smile, eyes wrinkling with joy.

"I knew if I was patient, if I waited for the right moment, I'd be able to see that energy again. Right, Kirito?"

Shifting to a cross legged position, I rested my chin on the palm of my hand. "I don't get it. What makes me stand out right now? What's the energy that I supposedly exude?"

"I don't know." In response to my incredulous stare, Sachi only giggled. "We've spent so much time together. Learning, fighting. But there are moments that I can tell you're different. Even if it only lasts a second."

A cool breeze tousled Sachi's hair, forcing her to brush it down with her fingers.

I'd only known the girl for a brief time. From my point of view, she was almost a stranger. Yet she held me in such high esteem. Not just auto!Kirito, but me. The me who was only there for fractions of the time. How? Why?

I wanted to say so much. Ask even more. But my time was coming to a close. I could feel it. At this moment, Sachi and the rest of her guildmates should've been dying. Falling like flies to enemies far above their abilities.

And it only took a minute for it to happen. Human life, extinguished in the blink of an eye.

So even if I would regret my next words, I would regret it even more if I left it unsaid.

"Sachi." I closed my eyes, allowing myself the comfort of not watching her disappear. "It'll be a long time until 'it' returns. Christmas eve, to be exact. So, in the meantime, please live."

A small hand gently rested on my head, a quiet whisper following. "I will."

X X X

12/24/2023 - Floor 49

Festive music played across the city. Snow fell and people were cheerful. Houses were decorated with bright yellow lights and the giant tree in the plaza glowed like a fire.

Resting on a bench in the central plaza, I stared out at the players enjoying the Christmas atmosphere. It was completely unlike the average day in SAO. Full of life and joy, despite being stuck in a death game. It probably helped that the town was a safe zone.

"I hear someone's been taking risks with their level raising." Behind me and to my left came a high nasally voice. I didn't recognize her right away, but putting two and two together, I came to the conclusion that this was the infamous Argo the Rat.

Remaining silent, I ignored the girl and opened my menu. Scrolling down, I found that the Moonlit Black Cats no longer existed as a guild. Not only that, but I couldn't find Keita, Tetsuo, Ducker, Sasamaru, or Sachi on my friends list.

However, much to my relief, Sachi messaged me not long ago. Earlier in the day, at around noon.

"So, did you want the info or not?" Argo spoke up, reminding me that I wasn't alone. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw the hooded figure leaning against the bench.

"No, I don't."

"Huh?!" Slipping forward, the info broker gripped the bench to keep herself from falling. "But everything you've been doing…"

She grunted, patting down her pants. "Well, no skin off my back. Just don't come crawling back to me if you change your mind."

Reading Sachi's message, I absentmindedly responded to Argo. "Don't worry, I won't."

[Dear Kirito,

Sorry, does that sound too formal? I'm not used to writing these kinds of things. How are you doing? It's been a while since we last spoke. I don't blame you. None of us would blame you. You did your best to protect and build us up. So don't think for a second that it was your fault.

I heard Keita is doing well. Managed to rejoin the front lines, but I can't remember which guild he joined. I'm really happy for him.

Get back to me soon. I was patient. Really patient. You said you'd be ready on Christmas Eve.

Your friend,

Sachi]

X X X

I was alone in a far less luxurious bedroom. A single message was sent. I had no idea why I did it. There was a plan. To fight the event boss for the faint possibility that it dropped the resurrection item. I was prepared to die for it. But for some reason, I opened Sachi's message. I had tried so hard. Put so much focus into leveling. I knew that the moment I read her message, I would give up. Give up on her guildmates.

[I'm on the 49th floor, the city of Myujen.]

Letting out a sigh of relief, I was immensely grateful that auto!Kirito didn't do something stupid. If he had gone out to fight the boss, I would've turned back immediately.

I guess it's time to face the music.

X X X

A long white coat with a fur collar draped over her. Beneath that was a familiar set of blue armor, but it was definitely higher quality than before. The swordswoman wore a sad smile, armored gloves held together.

"Hello..." Sachi walked up to me, stopping just a foot away. She tilted her head, staring into my eyes. "Is it really you?"

"Yeah. It's me."

Arms wrapped around my torso, firmly holding onto me. The girl dug her face into my chest. Something that wouldn't have been possible had I been wearing armor.

I kept my arms at my side, watching the snow fall from the sky.

"I missed you. I missed you a lot." Her words were muffled, barely carrying through the fabric of my shirt.

Raising a hand, I let it rest on her head. "I'm sorry."

Sachi separated her face from my chest, but kept her arms around me. She looked at me with her ocean blue eyes.

"Please don't say that." Sachi pleaded. "Don't take on this burden alone. I want to help you. Like you helped us. I meant it when I said I didn't blame you!"

So something did happen. I guessed as much from the message, but the rest of the guild really are dead, aren't they?

Damnit.

"Y'know, I'm really thankful. You listened to my request. It feels like I really made a difference. Did the impossible." My lips quivered as I tried to smile, looking at anything but Sachi.

I took a breath, calming myself. "I… I was being literal when I said things happen in the blink of an eye."

Reading the mood, Sachi slowly removed her arms, taking a small step back. "I don't understand."

"It's- I really don't think…" I trailed off.

Shaking her head, the swordswoman clasped her hands behind her back. "No, you don't have to say anything. Just, promise you'll wait for me. When I can be strong—strong enough to share your burden."

"I promise."

X X X

I blinked and Sachi was gone. It was as though she were never there to begin with. A chill crawled up my back, even if I knew that she likely just left between jumps.

Actually, just from my short interaction with her, it was more likely that auto!Kirito drove her off.

Letting out a sigh, I could only shake my head. At least I saved her and Keita. I went against the show, so it seemed that making even the smallest of changes could work to my favor.

Then again, maybe I just got lucky.

"Sounds like you're in quite the pickle, Kirito." Stepping into the light was a familiar diminutive girl. However, this time, I could see the golden hair and red whisker marks beneath her hood. "Though, to be frank, it sounds like a profit in the making."

I had absolutely no idea how to deal with Argo. She showed up in the anime for a couple seconds and then vanished. On the other hand, she was a prominent character in the Progressive series.

In that series, she was portrayed as a morally good person, even if she was business oriented. After all, she went out of her way to collect information for the free guide book. It also helped that she had a fun personality.

'I think. I don't remember disliking her, but it's been a while since I read the manga.'

"Is this a new type of fulldive nonconformity? That kind of thing is very important to know about. Especially if it involves a Clearer like you." The informant's steps were completely silent, regardless of the snow covered path. There was a glint in her eyes, but it did little to hide the concern behind them.

I could only smile at the veiled attempt to help me. If anything, it made me a little bitter, knowing that I wouldn't get the chance to speak with her.

X X X

I was alone in my room. The lights were off and the moon shone through the window.

While my thoughts were in turmoil, a ring sounded from my menu, revealing an item gifted from Sachi. It was a simple record cube, exactly like the one from the show.

Sighing, I pressed the top, activating the device.

"Hey, Kirito. I don't know when we'll meet next, so I wanted to leave a message. Merry Christmas! Even if it's a bit late." She giggled, letting out an exhale.

"When we first met, I was so lost. Every day, I would think to myself, 'I should've stayed in the Town of Beginnings' or 'this guild is going to be the death of me'. In hindsight, I really shouldn't have had such thoughts. I really regret what happened. If only…"

I could hear the sound of a bed creaking, feet softly moving across the hardwood floor. "But then you came along. You were our hero, our guidance. A mentor and an older brother. Even if you were the youngest of us."

"So, I wanted to say thanks again. And though it's not much, I wanted to sing you a little song. Think of it as a… late Christmas present, okay?"

Clearing her throat, Sachi began to sing.

"Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, had a very shiny nose~"

"And if you ever saw him, you would even say it glows~"

"All of the other reindeer, used to laugh and call him names~"

"They never let poor Rudolph, join in any reindeer games~"

"Then one foggy Christmas eve, Santa came to say~"

"Rudolph with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight~"

"Then how the reindeer loved him, as they shouted out with glee~"

"Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, you'll go down in history~"