January 5th, 2023, Stachion

After defeating the Irrational Cube, Asuna and her friends departed for the seventh floor. ALS and DKB remained behind, embroiled in a meeting about what happened with Buxum. Now that there was proof of the secret murder guild, Kirito mentioned it was time for him to talk with Lind and Kibaou about it.

Two hours after their victory, Kirito, Asuna, and Mito returned to Stachion once the Teleport Gate was activated to escort Theano and Myia home. It was forty minutes past midnight when they returned to the empty town square, and the younger NPC was nearly out of commission. Asuna also knew it was Jaymes' birthday and decided it was best if Koharu got her partner to herself for a while. Kirito, for all she knew, was unaware and wouldn't miss anything if they said something about it in the morning. Mito spent most of the trip from the tower to the gate talking to them privately, so it was a quick farewell.

Myia and Theano would be the first NPCs Asuna knew of that traveled via the Teleport Gate, meaning Kizmel could do the same as once proposed. A short discussion proceeded between the three players and Theano: the golden cube's origins as a prototype for a pre-Great Separation war machine (the first time it was mentioned outside of the elven people), how Theano fell for Cylon, and the truth about the immortal Lord Pithagrus. That detail was not included in the original plot based on Mito and Kirito's reactions. At the end of the conversation, Kirito returned the fused silver key to Theano.

After bidding farewell to the NPCs, Mito turned to Asuna. Sensing the atmosphere, Kirito quietly stepped away. When he was out of earshot, Asuna faced Mito. So many thoughts bubbled in her head. This was probably the first time since November they had a moment for themselves. Mito strayed away when they found lodgings, and if there was a girl moment, Koharu was present. Yes, this is the first time Asuna has stood alone before Mito in two months and five levels.

Asuna had no idea what to say. Her mind was swimming with things to speak about, but none wished to surface. She didn't know what Mito did between the first and fourth floors. She didn't know how Mito survived and why she hadn't participated in any front-line groupings until now. She wondered if there was a chance that Mito would stay with them. But those ponderings were below another thought - what Mito would do next.

"...Mito..."

Mito bowed her head, then shook it as if to deny a question Asuna hadn't spoken. "Your place is with him. With the three of them. You've found it, remember?" She turned her eyes to Kirito, seated on the side of a building. "By his side, correct?"

"Yes, but..." She turned to Kirito as well and nodded her head. "Right. That's the path I chose. Kirito, Koharu, Jaymes... They gave me a reason to live, grow, and fight in this world. I'll continue onward."

Mito smirked. "You're much stronger than you were two months ago. And yet, there I was, spending months gathering materials for a handcrafting shop. I heard all about the beautiful goddess on the front, two actually, and I happened to run into you thanks to Argo."

"Is that so? Hm... Be sure to add handcrafted clothes and trinkets, then Koharu and I will be your best customers! Oh, speaking of which..." Asuna reached for her neck and pulled out a necklace that Mito had given her some time ago. "I guess this would have been useless against the needles and the gas Cylon used."

"Maybe. I think level-1 poisons would have had no effect, but level-2 might be beyond the simplicity of the necklace. Maybe it would have taken more to paralyze you. There'd be no protection against level-5, though. But despite all that, I am happy to see you wearing it. And I am delighted we could meet again and that I could...be forgiven, even if it didn't mean much. Now, I can move forward without any regrets."

"Me too."

"I'll hold you and Koharu to the promise of a visit once I set my shop up. Be first in line, you hear?"

"Got it. And at the same time... If we ever need help again, can I call on you?"

Mito chuckled and looked at the ceiling. "Yeah...and part of me wishes I didn't have to leave you. But I, too, need to find my place in the world and my way of life. You have found yours with Kirito. Koharu has hers with Jaymes. Maybe I need to find a guy partner who'll give me purpose, hehe...though the one that's taken had saved me already."

Asuna's brow raised as Mito turned away, a blush across her face. It lowered as she leaned forward to tease Mito. "Oooooh, what a development. If the girls at our school could see who made you blush, they'll never leave you alone. And him? Of all people? You got competition, you know."

"Shut up... Like you can talk."

"I have no idea what you speak of."

"Sure. I'm with you. I rather not owe Argo a hundred Col if you and Kirito become a couple before Jaymes and Koharu." Amused by Asuna's dropped jaw, Mito stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her stunned companion. "Because, just like walking through town, battling monsters, leveling up, forming parties, researching, finding close friends, and maybe even love, finding your path in life is one of the best parts of this game."

Asuna settled on the comfort of that familiar phrase and hugged Mito back. ",,,Then I know you can do it, Mito."

"I'll work on it hard. Then, after I find it and when you call for me again, I'll come running to you. Because you are and always will be my friend."

"And in the meantime, I'll become stronger and carry your hopes with me. And we'll be there if you ever need me or any of us. Kirito, Jaymes, Koharu, and I will always be your friends.

The two girls separated and nodded to each other. Asuna stepped back toward Kirito, while Mito turned and faced the Teleport Gate. "Okay, see you, Asuna."

"See you later, Mito."

xxxxxxx

After bidding farewell to Mito and Theano and goodnight to Kirito and Asuna, Jaymes and Koharu hunkered down in an inn in the seventh's floor's main town, Lectio. It took Jaymes a moment to remember the layout of this town, given it wasn't organized like Stachion, but once he did, they left the circular town square for one of the many buildings made of wood, stone and plaster.

He didn't say why he had a hard time remembering Lectio other than "It's been four months since the beta ended, how would I remember everything?" Koharu did not correct him for remembering almost everything about the beta, labyrinth bosses and anything he didn't experience being the exceptions. She chalked it up to his exhaustion, because the moment they entered their beautiful inn room, her partner ignored all the furniture and flung himself onto the bed.

She chuckled to herself and quickly prepared herself for bed, unequipping her armor and weapons first then her normal clothing with two taps of the UNDO EQUIPMENT button. Once she was in her nightwear, she walked over to the right side of the bed and slipped under the comforter. "Take your armor off at least, Jaymes."

She couldn't hear his response through the pillow, but he did do as she said. He turned his body to his left side and used the same command to remove his weapons and metal chest plate. He never stripped further down, whether because he was restraining himself to some form of decency with their arrangement or...actually, there wasn't an "or."

Sword Art Online was interesting like that. When they were under different appearances - well Koharu maintained her real likeness all this time - Jaymes and Kirito were much cooler. Older looking too, which aided in their personalities. But ever since the game became their reality and appearances followed, Koharu knew her partner was faking his attitude. It was her fault; he was putting on a brave face to keep her emotions in check those first few weeks. He kept others at bay, holding on to the promise that he'll protect Koharu first and himself second. She honestly believed him.

But now that she watched him now, his back to her, she wondered just how much of the real Jaymes had leaked out. He was vulnerable on Christmas and New Years', but besides that, he never acted out of "character" yesterday afternoon when he saved Mito. While that wasn't the first time either partner did something without the other - Koharu was only with Kirito when they first encountered Morte one night on the third floor, and sometime earlier on the same floor, Jaymes met and helped out Rain without her - this was the first time that one left the other behind. Maybe that's an extreme way of saying it.

The real Jaymes reared his head today, risking his life for someone else. He went out his way for a stranger in the real world and for someone he did not promise to protect. At the same time, he entrusted someone other than himself - if not Koharu herself - to protect her.

Against her better judgment and an unspoken rule of no contact, Koharu shimmied over to her partner's back and reached around his waist. He stiffened as she locked him in between her arms, head, and chest. She knew there was so many boundaries she was crossing both as his partner and as a girl to a boy their age. The fabric of her nightwear and his t-shirt were barely a quarter of an inch thick, if not less. Just as she could feel the contours of his avatar's depiction of his body, he could feel hers. She wouldn't blame him if he got angry. She wouldn't blame him if the code violation popped up and he sent her to Black Iron Palace's prison.

But he didn't move his body. He didn't open his mouth. He wasn't sleeping, that she could tell, but he wasn't acting as if he was fully awake. So in his silence and stillness, she said the words on her mind. "Why did you save Mito? No, I am not saying you shouldn't have, of course I'm happy that you did so. I'm not asking about the obvious reasons, but for why you went out and saved her."

His silence lingered for so long Koharu thought he might've been asleep the whole time and she made a greater fool of herself, but then he turned around completely and shocked her. Because of this, they were torso to torso and their faces a couple inches apart. If they were lovers, Koharu would be tempted to close that distance — and if she's honest with herself, that temptation was strangely strong right now even though she doesn't love Jaymes. Human instinct or base desires to a guy she held great feelings other than love for? Grown ups did this and more without being in love all the time, right?

Her face reddened at the thought that she almost didn't notice Jaymes speak. "Because she's our friend."

"...What?" Partly embarrassed by her brain and partly confused by what he said, Koharu stared blankly at her partner.

"Was you expecting another reason?"

"I wasn't expecting you to say that. Not 'our friend,' that is."

"Oh...well, yeah, that's all there is to it. Maybe at the time it was because I didn't want to see Asuna lose someone she's close to, or maybe I didn't want someone else to die while I didn't do anything to save them, but when I thought about it when you asked, that was the answer to everything. You, Kirito. Asuna, Mito, Argo, and some others are my friends. I know that I told myself that I would only go that far for us, but after Diavel, I knew I couldn't think that way anymore. If I can save myself and you, I should try to save all that I can, especially those I care for." His gaze shifted downward, too far down to a more eye-catching view of Koharu's body. "Besides... Two thousand people aren't as lucky as I am today."

Koharu nodded. "I understand." Two thousand people will never have another birthday, but he made it to his. More people will die before Koharu's birthday and throughout the next year. That much is certain, but if they can mitigate the number of deaths and progress as much as possible in the next year, it will be worth celebrating another birthday.

"One piece of advice about your partner, Koharu. You got to be strong. Not physically, that will come with time. But mentally, you have to be stronger. There will come times when you have to shoulder his burdens as he shoulders yours."

She releases her friend and rose up. She was going to do this later, but this will be the only time they'll get together. Open her inventory, she materialized an item she got from Castle Galey's armory at the same time she and Asuna got the second dagger and the lance, respectively. When she saw the item, it screamed "Jaymes will love this" even if it's something she doesn't see him picking out.

The old sage didn't mind her taking it, nor did she return the dagger she borrowed. As long as the elves weren't missing the items Asuna and Koharu took, everything would be fine, right?

She cradled the item close and turned to her partner, who remained on his back with a strange expression of dejection, "Hey, can I tell you something?"

"Sure?"

"I know I say it a bunch, but I am truly grateful to be your partner. I know that I am troublesome and weak. I know that you could do this without me even though I know you'll never admit it, but even so... I am so happy that we've made it this far together, and so, to show my appreciation..." Koharu held forth a folded black decorative cloth. "Happy birthday, Jaymes."

Jaymes rose and took the cloth from Koharu. Curious, he pressed a finger against it to read its properties window. It wasn't a mere fabric Koharu chose on a whim to spruce up his image. It was the Warrior's Scarf, an accessory item that enhanced one's strength stat plus bonuses to attack and defense. As for why it was perfect for Jaymes, it had an additional bonus for shields, reducing the durability reduction by any attacks up to sixty percent. Of course, it had a limited effect — the stronger a shield's defense stat is, the less protection the scarf will provide.

"...Thank you, Koharu," Jaymes said after he closed the properties window. He looked at her and continued, "I honestly don't know what to say. But I'll be sure to use this as long as possible."

"I'm happy to hear you like it. I knew you would — Humph?!" Next thing she knew, he had grabbed her softly and pulled her into him. Because she was frightened by it (ironic considering how all this started) she instinctively pushed him back, which left to both of them dropping on the bed. He was caught off guard that his hold tightened enough for Koharu to forget about a retreat. By that time she regained some of her senses, she was all too aware of her position — on top of Jaymes, hands around him as his was around her, her chest pressed against his and their faces on top of one another.

If that scarf wasn't there between their faces...it would be an awkward moment only feasible in romcom anime, light novels, and manga.

Koharu lifted her flushed face quickly, but not too far from him. Jaymes removed the scarf from his face and sighed. "The heck you push me for?"

"Th-th-the heck you hugging me like that for?"

"I should ask you that, idiot... Anyway, um...and as for what you said... No, I'm the lucky one here. You put up with me way more than you ought to. And if it weren't for you, I might not be alive on my own, or part of some guild. So...with that said, I'm much happier here with you Ko than anywhere else."

Koharu had fallen back on the bed at this point, head on his shoulder, practically cuddling with her partner while he averted his eyes away from her. He stashed the scarf in his inventory and turned to her again.

"Besides, my partner is the strongest, kindest, and the most beautiful girl I have met. I'd be dumb to wish for an alternate fate. She's the best present I could possibly obtain. Thanks for making this birthday awesome so far, and for being there by my side the last three months and onward."

Strongest and most beautiful? Koharu was grateful he felt that way when he knew Asuna existed, but she'll accept being the kindest if it meant she wasn't as harsh as the rapier user. "You're welcome. Let's keep this up, the four of us." Jaymes nodded in silence and it remained quiet for a long time. With her gift-giving energy diminished, Koharu's comfort in her partner's embrace lulled her quickly to sleep's hold.

"...So when's your birthday?"

Sleep delayed for a moment, Koharu answered, "February twenty-second."

"Good to know. Now I've been up twenty four or so hours, so don't wake me up early or at all. Understood?"

"Yeah...sure..."

Many years later, when her friends would asked when did Koharu fall for Jaymes, she would often cite what would happen a month and thirteen floors later. But when Jaymes answered, though he would go on to hide it a hundred times better than Koharu until the upcoming fall, it was this very night that he knew he lost the game of love.

xxxxxxx

Progressive Factor 2: Lacrimosa Of A Reaper comes to an end. And let's just say it was quite a journey to find where to fit Mito initially.

When I started the original, Mito wasn't a known character at that point. We just knew the movie was adapting Progressive. I didn't watch the movie until it came to streaming, which I believe was either in the latter chapters or after I finished Progressive Factor. Safe to say, there wasn't a chance to include Mito.

In Unital Ring II, I flaunted with the idea to include her there, but I hadn't introduced her yet to where I'd be satisfied (ironically, I chose a character who hadn't been introduced, Lux from the Girls Ops spinoff). So when I decided to start this story, opportunity presented itself. Now with that out the way, it goes without saying that Mito will return, with her now being canon in volume 28.

But Mito wasn't the only new inclusion, Flash forward to the sixth floor, and we get two original characters on Laughing Coffin's side, Annihilator and Devesta. Annihilator isn't totally new, with a minor role in Blacksmith and Warrior, but this is his proper introduction. Devesta originally appeared in Game of Betrayers: Squad Jam 3. She'll be a big part of the AGGO storyline while the both of them will appear in future Jaymes/Koharu stories featured on Aincrad.

With the novelization on Floor 7, possibly at the end of it, who knows when the final part of the adventures of Kirito, Asuna, Koharu, and Jaymes story will end. I don't know if I'll continue with Floor 7 right now, return to Floor 14 with the story I had taking there, or finally complete the Floor 35 story. And that's if I stick on Aincrad, as I do have the next AGGO story preparing to go.

Whatever the next move is for me, thank you for reading Progressive Factor 2: Lacrimosa Of A Reaper, and stay cool.

xxxxxxxx

Three years later, Asuna...

"Wow!" Koharu Honda's mouth hung like an open mailbox as she, Asuna Yuuki, Kazuto Kirigaya, and Joshua Hardin passed under the rising red torii gates at the Fushimi-Inari Taisha shrine in Kyoto, Japan. They came here on a trip to visit Joshua's father, who was recovering in a hospital, and introduced Koharu to him. Initially, this was a weekend date between Koharu and Joshua, but when he made the mistake of telling Asuna and Kazuto, the two girls decided to make it a trip for four.

They visited his father, the head of the artificial intelligence division at the family company. He graciously thanked Joshua's friends, especially Koharu, for his son's safety during the two years of SAO and possibly many other incidents in which Joshua has defied harm. After father and son had a private conversation, the teenagers began their trip around the city, starting with the shrine. Kazuto and Koharu, who'd never been to the town or hadn't been in a long time, led the pack with eagerness; Asuna and Joshua, who came either a few times a year or, by the looks of things on Joshua, had other things on his mind.

She slowed her stair-climbing speed to match the boy in the black and red outfit, his eyes glued to his phone. Naturally, she wouldn't expect Joshua to be overly awed by a shrine dedicated to a religion he doesn't practice, but he usually showed interest in his nerdy way. "What are you looking at? You've been quiet since we left the hospital."

"My father gave me some data from SAO that he and Rath from the server after the OS Incident. Koharu's data, including the pictures she took with Record Crystals."

"He did that?"

"Mhm, in case she had memory loss of Sword Art Online, that being her most recent memories. I'll share it with her later, but the ones I'll give you and Kazuto I'll send first. But, umm..." He stood in place and handed her his phone. "There's...one I believe you have the right to see first." She looked at him, then apprehensively took his phone and held it up. Immediately, her jaw dropped as low as Koharu's earlier, but for a different reason. Hers was shock.

In the picture were Joshua, Koharu, Asuna, and Kazuto as their virtual personas with low-level equipment, not the equipment they probably recognize themselves in later on in the game. Koharu and Asuna sit on a bench while their respective partners stand behind them. Seated between Koharu and Asuna is Kizmel, the elven warrior whom they helped for six floors in SAO's Elf War Campaign. Her eyes, however, go to the girl seated to her left, someone she hadn't thought about in a while.

"That's... Wow... I forgot that Koharu took this picture."

"Mhm. If I remember correctly, this was at the elven castle on the sixth floor. One of the last times we partied with Mito before she left."

"It's been a while since I've talked to her."

"When was the last time you've seen her?"

"Not since SAO." When Asuna said she hadn't thought much of Misumi in a while, she meant it. Asuna didn't wake up with most of the SAO survivors when the game was beaten, and when she did after her then-fiancé Suguo's plot was thwarted, she went about her life, real and virtual. She hadn't thought to give her old friend from middle school a call, text, or time to hang out and catch up. It seemed Misumi had the same busy life.

Joshua stuffed his phone in his pocket and glanced up at the tunnel of torii gates. "Well, I think it would be nice to call her up now, especially with Koharu around. Misumi was her friend too, and was equally hurt by the loss."

"Yeah...You're right. I wonder when we'll have the chance to see her again." Asuna stepped forward up the lengthy path and beckoned Joshua forward. "Come on, let's not get left behind."

"Yeah. Right behind you."