Weeks had passed without a sound. No answers from Kim and zero eyes on Dai. Asuna, while still worried, tried her best to live her life unaffected. The issue was that she was reclusive. She kept to herself; even conversations with friends seemed to be like talking to a wall. She couldn't understand why. She needed answers. Answers from Kim. Answers as to what Dai was planning. But with no word from either of them, she was left with unresolved questions and an anger the seemed to revolve and grow around the two of them.

A knock on her dorm door stirred Asuna from the bed. Groaning, she slipped on her house shoes and shuffled to answer the persistent knocking. Sighing, she finally opened her door only to have to look down.

"Oh," Asuna looked surprised, "Hello Eri. Is everything okay?"

The little girl stood there, fidgeting with her fingers before looking to her side. "Are you sure," she whispered loudly.

Before Asuna could look to see who she was speaking to, Eri's voice perked up.

"Asuna, would you like to have lunch with me and Mr. Aizawa?"

Asuna paused a moment before looking over her shoulder at her disheveled room. She then looked down to see her lounge wear before cringing at herself. She wasn't ready for company. Let alone dressed for company.

"I um," Asuna stuttered after her words. It was when she looked back at Eri that she felt her heart squeeze. This little girl was looking so ready to jump up and down at the answer of yes.

Nodding Asuna, leaned over and grabbed her purse. "Can you give me a moment to get dressed properly," she asked before handing Eri her purse.

Nodding enthusiastically, Eri grinned holding tight to her purse, "I CAN WAIT!"

Laughing softly, Asuna turned back into her room, closing the door behind her. She quickly sifted through her clothes and decided on a sweater for the chilly weather and a pair of faded blue jeans. She slipped out of her house shoes and into a pair of sneakers by the door. Once re-emerging from her room, she opened her door only to see Eri still standing there grinning, rocking on the balls of her feet.

"Thank you for holding my purse," Asuna smiled at her, closing the door behind her.

Eri quickly grabbed ahold of her hand and proudly lead her down the hallway towards Aizawa, who was waiting patiently with his hands in his pockets.

"I'm glad you joined us, Asuna," Aizawa slightly smiled, watching as she approached him with the little girl.

Asuna, for a moment, caught herself in a daze when looking at the man before her. She wasn't exactly sure when even looking at him made it feel like her skin was heating up. Once she locked eyes with him, she quickly looked away from him as the rosy tones appeared on her cheeks.

"I guess I was isolating again," she mumbled, adjusting her purse on her shoulder, "I'm glad I'm coming too." She smiled politely, nervousness eating away at her insides. She wondered if she looked put together, wondered if she looked enough to even stand beside him. Shaking away her thoughts from attacking her, she walked with the two outside the dorms and to the sidewalk outside of the school.

It was a short train ride and answering the million questions seemed to have about her before they arrived to their stop.

"Okay, okay," Eri waved her hands in front of her as they continued to walk, "one more question?"

Sighing at the bargain, Asuna nodded, a small smile creeping back on her face. "Okay, Eri. One more question."

Eri thought a moment, letting the conversations of those nearby fill the air as they continued their journey. "Why wont you let Mr. Aizawa help you?"

Asuna stopped in her tracks a moment before looking down to the little girl. Eri just watched Asuna with curiosity, not understanding the depth of the subject she opened.

Thinking a moment, Asuna dared not look at him. "Because," she started softly, "some battles are meant to be fought alone. That way those you love wont be harmed."

Asuna left it at that but didn't take stake in how valuable her choice of words were. Love. Not the ones you care for, but love. Love was an emotion Asuna kept guarded. But as her relationships continued to form with Eri and Aizawa she found herself falling head over heels for the man who stood by her side all these years. A man who watched her marry someone completely different. A man who witnessed even on her weakest days, refused to ask for help from her violent situation.

Eri processed her answer a moment before she looked to Aizawa who was simply struck by Asuna's words.

"Those who love you won't allow you to fight alone," he simply stated, as if it was a fact of life. As if Asuna should have known this answer all along.

It was then Asuna locked eyes with him. An exchange of silent words that needed no voice. The message was understood from both parties before they continued their walk to their lunch spot.

It was after a filling lunch that they all started back to the train station. While waiting for their transportation to arrive, Asuna stood beside Aizawa who was now carrying a very sleepy Eri. She laid on his shoulder, fighting to keep her eyes open, only to fail and doze off. Gigging to herself, Asuna gently brushed Eri's hair out of her eyes.

"She's such a sweet girl," Asuna stated softly, before looking to Aizawa who already had eyes on her.

"She is. She talks about you a lot," he told her turning to look ahead again, noticing Asuna caught onto his glances more often now. "I'm glad you joined us. I've missed seeing you."

Asuna nodded before holding to her purse more. She felt guilty for not leaving her room more often. But between the sadness and fear, she couldn't get herself to stay out for long.

"I've missed seeing you. It's just with-"

"I know," he nodded, slightly adjusting Eri to lay more comfortably on his shoulder. "But it's not a battle you have to fight alone. As much as you hate it, I'm not letting you do this alone. You've carried too much already. You deserve more."

His words seemed to fall effortlessly. Like it was a vow he recited every morning in the mirror. What she didn't know was that she held a place in his heart for a long time, he just didn't know how to ever tell her. Through every life trial that was thrown at her, she got back up. It never seemed like the right time to just dump his feelings. And when she announced her engagement, he decided to put his feelings aside and help her from the sidelines. Only he felt he should have fought harder. She wouldn't have suffered such a fate.

Fate.

Asuna saw how lost in his world he was when he didn't react to the train pulling to the platform.

"Aizawa," she pulled on his sleeve.

No response.

Pausing a moment, Asuna tugged on his sleeve again, this time closer to his shoulder, "Shouta, the train."

He shook his head coming back to reality, seeing her look to him concerned.

"Right. Sorry," he turned back to the train and walked with Asuna.

After a train ride, a short walk and getting Eri ready for an easy evening of reading and dinner later, Asuna lingered with Aizawa in the lounge.

"Thanks for lunch," Asuna started their conversation.

"Of course. Like I said, thanks for joining us. I've missed seeing you," he told her softly, his hands shoved in his pockets.

Asuna leaned back against the backside of the couch, her hands grasping the edge of it. "I'm literally right down the hall," she laughed softly.

Chuckling to himself, it was like watching two shy teenagers. It had been so long since Asuna felt these butterflies in her stomach, she almost laughed more than she meant to.

"Well may I walk you back to your room," he asked, holding out his hand.

Asuna was hesitant at first, but agreed to hold his hand, walking with him down the hallway. When they stopped in front of her door, she turned to him.

"So... you have any evening classes," Asuna asked him as she looked at her shoes, fiddling with her fingers.

Aizawa tilted her head up to look at him, "I don't have anything on the schedule. You got any ideas?"

Asuna immediately felt her cheeks flood pink and red as her eyes locked with his. But it was courage she needed and it was courage she was going to have. She leaned in close to him, her heart racing faster than she had felt before. Closing her eyes she felt the distance close between them, his lips colliding with hers with such grace. She felt one hand slip to the side of her neck, the other pulling her as close as he could around her waist.

As if her lungs were begging for air, they parted, breath heavy a moment before she reached behind her for the door knob of her room.

"Would you like to come in?"